Nature October 5th 1876
Observations have been published by several French
provincial papers on the meteor of September 24th. One of the most
accurate was in the Echo du Nord published at Lille. The apparent diameter of
the meteor has been stated to have been equal to the Moon in opposition; The
same measure was given by M Mamberger, the member for Dunkirk, as reported by
that gentleman in a letter to M Leverrier.
The position of the meteor was below Ursa Major, on the
eastern side at 20 degrees from the horizon for Lille. The time in Dunkirk and
Lille was the same, 6h and 40 m local time, Dunkirk being a few minutes behind
owing to the western longitude. The colour was almost the same having been
described as reddish blue at Dunkirk and reddish violet at Lille.
A surgeon at Dunkirk said he heard a hissing sound; a sound
was also heard at Lille b y a number of people. It was an explosion according
to ear witnesses and took place three minutes before the appearance. If correct
the observation s shows a distance of about 60 kilometres.
M. Leverrier is collecting and examining statements before
entering into a calculation. The light was seen by him at the observatory, as
reported before the French Academy of Sciences on the following day. It was
seen by a number of persons in Paris. The cloud of burning matter and ashes was
observed for a considerable time -0 at least fifteen minutes.
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