An account of a surprizing meteor, seen in the air, March the 6th, 1715/16, at night. Containing, I. A description of this meteor, from the author's own observations. II. Some historical accounts of the like meteors before; with extracts from such letters, and accounts of this, as the author has receiv'd. III. The principal phænomena of this meteor. IV. Conjectures for their solution. V. Reasons why our solutions are so imperfect. VI. Inferences and observations from the premises / By William Whiston, M. A.

William Whiston

Date:: 1716

Credit: An account of a surprizing meteor, seen in the air, March the 6th, 1715/16, at night. Containing, I. A description of this meteor, from the author's own observations. II. Some historical accounts of the like meteors before; with extracts from such letters, and accounts of this, as the author has receiv'd. III. The principal phænomena of this meteor. IV. Conjectures for their solution. V. Reasons why our solutions are so imperfect. VI. Inferences and observations from the premises / By William Whiston, M. A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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[ 33 ] feveral times, but never over the whole all toge¬ ther. By the whole I mean only that Part of the Northern fide of the Hemifphere , from about 4^ Degrees to 90 Degrees,and between Ea(tzn& Weft, for nothing appear’d Southward but Stars; and but now and then that any thing appear’d be¬ tween 20 Degrees and 49 Degrees North. Sometimes they feem’d to crowd together and cling about each other, twifting and twirling in circular Manner, like Duft or Snow, when in the Eddy of the Wind, o„r like Water in a Gully Hole, and fo difappearing, without any Dark- nefs or Cloud appearing in its Room ; but this kind of Eddying I did not obferve above two or three times, which always feem’d to be juft over our Heads. Nor did any of their Appea¬ rances of any Shape whatever (Tor fome faid they were like Armies fighting, others like firing of Guns, and a 1000 others^kcontinue vifible above a Second or two , or Thereabouts, and often not fo long, but rather feem’d only to be made Vifible, by frelh Supplies of fudden Flafhes of Light, conftantly fucceeding each other, like Light ftriking upon Objects plac’d in the Dark, but often intercepted* ’Twas fome- times for a Minute or tw5aM'Serene and Clear; and then again thofe Whitifli Clouds appear’d, clafhing and fucceding each other, (like Circles made, and fpreading in the Water by the throw¬ ing in a Stone) but with more Quick and Vio¬ lent Motions, and appearing and difappearing in a Twink. Which Jmakes me imagine ’twas Light (but from what Caufe I know not) ftriking upon the Atmofphere, and making it vifible ; for Light ftriking or falling obliquely on the uneven Sur¬ face of any Body, will produce every Moment different

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