3-011-536 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Great Meteor on Nov. 27. - the Meteor and sparks as seen by Mr. Lowe, 1862. 'Mr. Lowe, who observed it at Beeston, seems to have seen it under the most favourable circumstances, having witnessed the breaking up of the body into numerous pieces, as delineated in the accompanying diagrams. At Beeston the direction of its course was almost between the stars Beta Ceti and Fomalhaut...The duration of its appearance was estimated to be not longer than three seconds, in which interval it passed through an arc of about fifty degrees. It preserved almost the same brilliancy throughout its course, appearing and disappearing equally suddenly. It did not seem to move with extraordinary velocity across the heavens. At first it appeared of a dazzling and splendid blue tint, but afterwards changed its colour to yellow; but this may be owing to a slight mist which prevailed at the part of the sky at which it disappeared. It seemed almost equal in dimensions to the moon, but had not the same sharp outline as that body, and its great brilliancy prevented the eye from forming any exact idea of its size. The most natural comparison of its appearance was that of a skyrocket passing slowly across the heavens, and varying in colour as it went along'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.