The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-13

distant from the earth TO have parallax
spectators remote from each other would refer 1t diff
at Boston marked the position Of the cloud by
certain star, In South Carolina would refer IL to
point farther north and Ohio would IL farther
east Tho former change Of place is called peraax In
defamation, and the latter paraax in right ascension
tho height the object above the surface Of the EARTH
in the same manner AZ We estimate the height Of
mon cloud. u
Now has been ascertaned that observations made in
different ATTITUDES Indicated corresponding parallar in
decnation and these observations being collected and
carefully compared with each other give average dis
from the surface Of the earth OF 23s miles,
height of the meteorc cloud The anomalies however
in regard to the corresponding differences right
sion are such that Mr. A. c. Twinng is Of the opinon
that the change OF apparent position in the heavens
advancing from north to south was owing to some other
tho distance Of the meteorc cloud as only an approxma
ton the best that can be derived from data that are i'm
perfect and sometimes dscordan and regard It prob
able that the real Of the meeors considerably
more distant than the limit here assigned
Material substances comparatively near the earth
two or three thousand miles would be strongly affected
by tho earhs gravity and bodies constituted OF exceed
shown to have been) would be readily attracted
the earth from such height Gravity therefore, being
both known ana an adequate cause - assigned as the
wards the EARTH and hence is inferred that they ei in
parallel lines directed TO the centre OF the earth.
Although IL is doubtful, from the want of the requisite
data whether the source OF the meeors or the height of
mcteorc cloud has been accurately ascerained yet
the limit above estimated Is confidently believed not TO
coed the actual distance. According to the esa-
shed laws Of falling bodies, the inquiry is next insti
tued what velocity the mete0rs would acquire falling
from point q 2Ss miles above the earth to within fifty
miles OF its surface, this being considered neary the
height Of the atmosphere The calculation gives nearly
aveocty Of four miles per second as that with which
the meteors entered the earths atmosphere, velocity
than ten times the maximum velocity Of cannon
ball. and about nineteen times that of sound 1t be
recollected that the atmosphere dminshes in density
very rapidly ascend from the earth until the
height of fifty miles is hardly to oppose the
least resistance to body moving In it. 1t is well known
that when air is suddenly compressed quantity Of
structed this principle for lighting tnder by
forcing down solid piston upon con.
psrl is eoed which snes nds a. the q
the barrel. In tho same manner the meteors enter
ing the atmosphere. produced sudden and powerful
compression Of the air before them thus extcang heat
sufficient TO produce in them intense ignition and II
they we're combusble to set them on fre.
The meteors constituted Of very light combnsti-
BILE materials Their combusbity rendered evident
by their exhibiting the actual phenomena Of combustion,
being consumed or converted into smoke with intense
light and heat and the extreme tennty Of the
composing them is inferred from the fact that they
stopped by the Had their quantity Of matter been
considerable with prodigious velocity, they would
have had sufcent momentum TO enable them to reach
the earth, and the most disastrous consequences might
have followed Upon submitting the subject to accurate
calculation established principles II Is ascertaned that
the quantity Of heat extrcated from the air by the fall
be compared only TO those Unreasonable degrees OF
heat produced in the laboratory Of the chemist before
even dssipated in yapor and abundantly
adequate account for all the effects OF ignitien and
COmbu6t which actually observed. MI. Twining
Indeed supposes the meteors to have had relative veo
city arising from the earhs motion towards them inde
pendent OF the motion hero supposed to arise from
ity and that they fell towards the earth with velocity
OF fourteen instead Of four miles per second Should
this estimate prove the correct will not set aside
the conclusions based upon the idea Of the meeors fall
ing the atmosphere with very great velocity but the
intensity Of the and Its adequacy to produce the
Some Of The larger me,eors must have been bodies OF
very large size II we know the actual distance Of u
minous body and s apparent diameter. compared with
otnfth opnnrn 10 oaoU
sions In the present have no means Of asccr
tanning the exact distance Of any meteor from the OBJ
Smith Of North Carolina and other persons in various
places meteor which appeared as large as the full
from the observer il must have had diameter OF
mile II 1t the distance Of eleven miles lis diameter
e2s feet and only one mile Cd must have been for
doubt that many Of the meteors were bodies OF large
size though may be dicut to precisely how large
air proves that they constituted Of very light
tcrals still the quantity Of smoke or residuum which
suited from their destruction indicates that their guam
tity of matter considerable The momentum Of
light bodies OF such size and In such numbers travesng
have produced extensive dsrangsmenis In the atmos.
pheric equilibrium. 4
These large bodies were stopped in the atmosphere
large volumes Of which would be suddenly and violently
displaced. Cold air Of the upper regions would DO
brought down 10 the earth; the portions OF air incun
bent districts Of country remote from each other
being mutually displaced, would exchange places, the
that Of cold ATTITUDES to regions remarkable
changes Of seasons would be the consequence and nu
rum That the state Of the weather and the condition
Of the seasons that followed the meteorc shower cor
responded 70 these consequences Of the disturbance Of
The atmospheric equilibrium 70 remarkable fact, and
sSos the opinion early suggested that such disturbance
Il natural effect OF the meteoric shower and Il
sequence from which the most formidable dangers a.
tending phenomena Of this kind are TO be apprehended
Although Y 70 doubtful whether the mesec,s n ,, any
witness informed US that he saw one explode leave
hundred feet in height The remarkable meteor
before mentioned a. having exploded near the star
peculiar that Il was . a. object upon which build the
inquiry whether the same meteor was seen by persons
ye2ote from each other this were the TACT then the
would refer IL would furnish data for estimating
its height. Mr. Twning has rendered IL probable that
estima,e that the place where the meteor ex.
ploded was twenty-niue and q half miles above
the surface Of the earth. Some circumstances, how
ever. mentioned by the writer OF the article IN the
american Journal Of Sienee still render somewha.
&c ssso wv a sSe and
facts strongly indicate that the place Of explosion was
much nearer to the earth than the limit assigned BY Mr.
With regard 70 the nature Of the meeors after cs,ab
fishing the fact that they were combustible, light and
transparent bodies Is inferred that the cloud wnich
produced the fiery shower consisted Of nebuous matter
analogous that which composes the tails OF comets
We do not know indeed, precisely what u the consu-
ton OF the material Of which the latter are composed
but know that II liz very light since II meets no ap.
probable attraction the planets moving even
among the satellites Of Jupiter without disturbing their
motions, although It's own motions, In such cases are
greatly disturbed thus proving It's maeriaity and we
know Is exceedingly transparent since the smallest
stars are visible through H. Hence, far ~ We can
gather knowledge OF the material OF the neouous
OF comets and Of the matter composing the me.
Of November Is they appear to be analogous to
each other
Various hypothesis been proposed 10 account for
ho wind nj
readily suggests itself this and most other unexplained
natural appearances 10 electricity But NO known pro-
pertes electricity adequate TO account Tor the pro-
ducon OF the meteors for the motions which they ex
hbsd for the trains which they In many Instances
lett behind them And this agent be supposed 10 have
some connection with the light and heat which they ex
hbi,ed IL may be replied that the compression OF the ar