A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - meteors seen in January 1877

Nature January 11^th 1877

Meteors of January 7^th

In the early part of this night a number of meteors were remarked near London, with unusually slow motion, particularly in the case of several which equalled Jupiter in brightness.

One at 10h 32m GMT starting from near lambda and mu Ursa Majoris, appeared to receive a sudden check, and was stationary for two seconds, 3 degrees below alpha Canum Venaticorum, where it was nearly extinguished, but a faint portion left a train for several degrees further.

It was not easy to judge the radiant point owing to continual interruption from passing clouds, but it would probably be somewhere about the stars in Uras Major above named.

Much lighting on this evening. The zodiacal light well seen as far as the principal stars of Aries.

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