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The Meteor, as seen over the Medina, Isle of Wight, 1856. 'At 4.50 p.m., as I was looking to the southward from East Cowes, I observed a ball of fire descend vertically, S.S.W. by compass, which seemed to have shot forth from the heavens from an altitude of sixty degrees, and descended in a straight line and burst at an elevation of about twenty or twenty-five degrees, presenting the most brilliant colours, from bright silvery white to deep yellow - then red and blue, in every respect similar to a sky-rocket. The train which it left behind appeared about fifteen degrees or more in length, like a rod of silver. After remaining so about twenty or thirty seconds, it gradually expanded itself and bent in the centre; and...assumed a serpentine appearance (as indicated Fig. B). At five p.m.. it appeared like a white fleecy cloud (Fig. C ); and at 5.50 it entirely disappeared'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.