Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-15

a sho,cer Of Fire.-W lille most NJ or.,,
citizens were comfortably wrapt in The ~ Ni's
Somnus, we beheld one Of the most snt; '~ q
awful 'pectacie' which nature can present 's
FIVE O'Clock this morning the sky was NV,
serene, and not cloud was to be ,esp p'',a!
sudden the heavens became iIlurnina,eSL h. "a.
sands Of shooting stars going in the di,s,,"0
the N. w. The phenomenon lasted u,,t' q
termission for nearly thirty minutes, TT.
ors were OF various sizes, some Iarser a wee
smaller. some forming long trains, which ,, Na'
ed for several seconds 10 the Heavens IT.,
were observed, not in one part of the ,Lv lug -"
but the North, the East and the Ws:, o",h
eqally spang'ed. At twenty minutes paN s we
meteor. we would suppose, about six iueh ~.
diameter, exploded with considerable noi,s
most perpendicuIarly over the N. W. p,,, # ~
city The blaze was splendid, so as to ole. ~
SKY the appearance Of sun rise. It shot i, ~
direction Of the N. w, leaving stream ofG.1a
which assumed a serpen,ne form, ,upa,s,%s
80 feet in length, and lasted more than on. ~
ute.
We were amused at the different effect, a..
duced upon the behoIder,, some in dr.,dLi,s
fright. predicted the end Of the world, olb,rJ
more stern souls were sure that it at lra,, D,.
nos,Icated some dreadful war; whilst The psaSt
opher, smiling at their simplicity, calmly ,,,I
the P.enomen9n, wonderful as It was.
The sight Of the Heavens THIS mornips xoDli
We think. convert even Prof Cap from hn ,S,,
~. that neteors are TERRESTRIAL comets. rs,n,
ing around the earth, as the Solar Comets r.yOl,.
around the Sun.
We are Indebted To a highly intelligent fisDt
for the following theory respecting the phenOp,
NOM
{" II has been generally recognized BY ptlO
sophers, that these mrte"rie appearances are uro
duced by solid bodies passing through the hpbr
regions Of the atmosphere with prOdisious ,eo,
~. and producing light BY the electricity tie,
excite. This appears to be incOnte.,abIy proved
BY the fact of these bodies Frequently falling ,c
the surface Of the earth--which can 0niv happel
however. when their velocity becomes 50 muts
retarded. that the centripetai force Of the ears.
attraction becomes greater than their oar cent?.
fugal force. THIS retardation is matter Of a,
thematical calculation, and may be OccasOrtJt.
ther By the increased resistance OF the deH,un
gions OF the atmosphere, or by the bodies then
selves, by any cause, bursting, and thus oatrih.
5 greater surface to the air through which A.l
pass.
Philosophers, however, do not agree as to
the origin Of these bodies Some attribute then
to the stones elected by the VOLCANOES Of the moot
10 sufficient distance to come within the earth,
attraction; others believe them to be thrown %
by our VOLCANOES to sufficient height to give thea
a centrifugal force strong enough to make then
revoIve round the earth, until. from accldenn
causes, they fall within its atmosphere, and &C
casionalIy to the surface.
+" The theory, however. frst pro posed BY Pc
fessor Clap. Of Yale College, appears to have b"
the most advocates. He supposes that there ar
a large number Of solid substances revolving co.,
tinually round the earth, probably the product d
the destruction of some Of the smaller planets
such as Vesta, Juno, Ceres or PaIIas, and forced
by accidental combinations Of power within the
sphere Of the earth's attraction. These are en-
tirely invisible. until. a. before mentioned. CON-
ing within the earth's atmosphere. they give a
brilliant light by the vivid electricity they excite
.. The appearance this morning seems to con
firm this theory. The continued train Of m,le'
ors. all proceeding in the same direction, DID,
cult to be accounted for, on any other suPP''I'
ton"
We hope the most minute details will be ~
lected throughout the country, regarding VH
most interesting phenomenon. Ball. Gas,