THE METEOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 13, 16 January 1871, Page 4

THE METEOR.

The following letter has been addressed to the Editor of the Evening Post: — Sir — Having received many communications and telegrams respecting the meteoric 6re ball or bolide which was seen here on the evening of Sunday last (Ist January), at 8.30 p.m., I beg to furnish your readers with the following approximate deductions, respecting its apparent course, magnitude, aud velocity: — The area within which this re.markable meteor was visible, from tho accounts already received, extended 630 miles from N. to S., with a width of 250 miles. Its path passed directly over Picton, as observers to the eastward of that place describe it as against the eastern sky, and those to the west as seen in the opposite direction. Its altitude above the earth appears to have beeu 40 miles, its nearest approach to Wellington being about 60 miles in a direct line. The general direction was a few degrees west of south, on which course it travelled wiih a velocity of upwards of 30 miles a second. The time occupied in traversing the above area (or, in other words, the whole period during which it was visible in New Zealand), would thus be only 21 seconds, and, from the opinion which several good observers formed of its apparent magnitude, the real size of the incandescent mass must have exceeded a quai ter of a mile in diameter. In order to be able to test these approximate results, I will be glad if any of your correspondents, especially in different parts of the Colony, can furnish me with information on the following points : — I. The quarter of the sky which they faced when they saw the meteor. 2. Whether it passted from right to left or the reverse. 3. The M*i,tude of its path above the horizon. T ' v I am, &c, James Hector. Colonial Museum, Wellington, 7th January, 1871.