Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-07

The Nature and Consultation OF Meteors
The Scientific Americon, of the 4th inst,
has the following in regard to meteors: (.
There is no room left for reasonable doubt
that meteors, such as the one which passed
over this city on the evening Of the 26th OF
July, are small planets, rushing through
space, and probably revolving around the
sun. OF the several explanations which have
been suggested no other has the slightest
degree Of plausbility, while this is In accord
ance with all the facts, and is confirmed by
every new observation. There are records
Of the appearance of hundreds of these bodies,
large numbers of them having exploded and
sent fragments to the ground. It is estimated
| that the one which passed over Ohio on the
2lst of April last, was three-eighths of mile
in diameter. Of the several fragments which
Il cast TO the earth, the largest weighed l0s
pounds, and others forty and fifty pounds
apiece. t1
The one which passed over this city on the
goth ult, will be forever memorable in the
history of these remarkable bodies. In the
hrst place, better account will be procured
Of IL than has been obtained of any of its
predecessors. II appeared in the evening OF
a clear night, when IL was most likely to be
seen; it passed at great hight 80 that il
was visible over wide area and it came
community in the world. There is hardly q
village from which it was seen that does not
contain one or more persons competent to
collect the testimony from the spectators,
and thus ascertain its distance from the
zenith at its greatest elevation.
From these numerous and scattered obser-
vatious its distance from the earth will, no
doubt be ascertained with degree of accu-
racy which has never before been equaled,
and a judicious sitting of the testimony will
probably permit pretty close estimate of its
size. From the best accounts that we have
yet seen, we calculate its hight at thirty
eight miles and its size at little more than
three-fourths of a mile in diameter, but these
results are to be verified by comparison with
all the other statements. 1t was probably
the largest meteor that has ever been seen.
If the meteor of the Goth did fall into the
Atlantic Ocean, the effect ought to have been
observed in the self-acting tide registers of
the Coast Survey, if in no other way.
II has been supposed, heretofore, that the
heat Of these little planets was produced by
the resistance of our atmosphere as they tra-
versed il with their immense velocity; though
such rough observation us has been made of
several would seem to indicate that they be-
came luminous and exploded beyond the
limits of onr atmosphere. AS these explo-
sions were accompanied, however, by loud
reports, which it was impossible to believe
could have been propagated where there was
no air or other medium q natural suspicion
was thrown on the accuracy of the observa-
tions. This discussion causes great interest
TO attach to the problem of ascertainnV pos
itively the height of these bodies above the
earth, and makes it desirable that all specta-
tors who chance to see one should make the
proper observations for this purpose.
The most important Of all circumstances to |
he carefully noticed when a meteor is seen,
is either its distance from the zenith, or its
distance above the horizon, at its greatest
elevation. This may be obtained with con-
siderable accuracy whenever the meteor
chances to come in line with any terrestrial
object, such as tree or building, by noting
exactly the part of the object with which It |
ranges, and carefully remembering this, to
be measured with instruments afterward. A
person who knows the principal stars may
adopt a still better plan, by observing the
stars which it passes in its fight, especially
at the point of its greatest elevation above
the horizon. This is the most valuable OF
all observations of meteors which can be
made, for if only two such are made at the
same distance on each side of the meteor's
track, they will give its hight from the earth
with accuracy and certainty. If the size is
givenas compared with any terrestrial object,
is mans hat, the apparent distance from the
earth in feet or miles should accompany
the statement, as the former without the
after has no meaning. The time of day, the
direction of flight, the color, and every
hing connected with the startling phenom- |
enon should also be noticed coolly and &C.
,urately, carefully written out, and for
warded either to the Scientific AMERICAN, ST. |
.imans Journal Professor Henry Of the |
Smithsonian Institute, or to the nearest col |
ege. In this way the American people will |
contribute their share toward obtaining q |
ull knowledge of these mysterious bodies |
which so frequently come in close proximity |
0 the earth, or in actual contact with it, in |
heir swift fight through space