Observers, particularly those residing in towns, must be constantly on their guard against mistakes in identifying meteors from terrestrial objects such as fire-balloons and the various forms of pyrotechnic display. That such caution is necessary will be admitted when we read the two following letters, which were published in the ‘Times’ some years ago:—
“A large meteor was seen to-night at 8.27, moving very slowly along the northern horizon, from west to east, at an altitude of about 8 deg. It was at least three times as brilliant as Venus, remaining visible for nearly five minutes, moving slower than any hitherto observed. I should be glad to receive observations made at more favourable stations....
“Mr. Slater’s Observatory, Euston Road, August 10th.”
“The ‘large meteor’ seen by Mr. Crumplen on Monday evening at 8.27, three times as brilliant as Venus, and moving from west to east, was a fire-balloon sent up shortly after 8 o’clock from the Eton and Middlesex Cricket Ground, Primrose Hill, as a _finale_ to some athletic sports which had taken place during the afternoon.
In concluding this chapter I may briefly mention that an old idea concerning meteors was that they originated gales of wind, and that, in fact, they were the usual precursors of stormy weather. This belief is thus expressed in Dryden’s ‘Virgil’:—
“Oft shalt thou see, ere brooding storms arise, Star after star glide headlong down the skies, And, where they shot, long trails of lingering light, Sweep far behind, and gild the shades of night.”
[45] During the seven months from May to November 1890 I noted ninety-five telescopic meteors while engaged in comet-seeking.
[46] A list of these was published in the ‘Monthly Notices,’ vol. 1. p. 466. See also ‘Monthly Notices,’ vol. xlv. pp. 93 _et seq._
Sidereal Work.—Greek alphabet.—Learning the Names of the Stars.—The Constellation figures.—Means of Measurement.—Dividing power.—Number of Stars.—Magnitudes.—The Milky Way.—Scintillation of the Stars.—Star-Disks.—Distance of the Stars.—Proper Motion of Stars.—Double Stars and Binary Systems.—Variable Stars.—New or Temporary Stars.—Star Colours.—Groups of Stars.—Further Observations.
“Ten thousand suns appear Of elder beam; which ask no leave to shine Of our terrestrial star, nor borrow light From the proud regent of our scanty day.” BARBAULD.