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.

47/88 page 41

[ 4* ] vanishing, and another arifing near it, with equal Brightnefs. I foon return’d from my Garden into my Houfe, not in any wife furprized ; yet think¬ ing on the Variety of fuch a Sight. In a Quarter of an Hour after, I went into the City ; and as foon as I was got half way of the Clofe, I met with feveral, who had not ta¬ ken notice of what I had obferv’d ; but told me of vaft Streams of Light, in Forms of Pyra¬ mids, like Lightning> like a Rainbow, like Fire, like the Sky opening, quivering, and indeed like any thing they could think of; had arifen from the North and Weft, and towards the Eatt, as far as the Zenith. Going on, I found Hlgh-ftreet full of People, all talking of what had appear’d, and what they thought it might be compar’d to. By this Time Day-light ought to have been over ; but a great Light continued near the Horizon, in the North, from North-Eaft to North- Weft ; which increafing at Half an hour paft 7 a Clock, I concluded and faid, that I thought it would produce another of thofe Fluxes of Light which they had feen ; which foon broke forth like a Stream of Fire, and quickly rofe up by the Chair of Cajfiope, on the Weft-Mo, of the Pole-ftar, almoft to the Zenith ; and con¬ tinued vifible at lead a Minute. Its Motion was very fwift; and fometirnes the Forepart, mo¬ ving fafter, than what fucceeded it, feem’d to break off; but foon was reach’d again, and united by what followed. Its Form was a Py¬ ramid , whofe Point was in the Zenith, and Bafe on the Body of the aforefaid Light.

Licence and re-use

Contents