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THE BRILLIANT FIREBALL METEOR OF
DECEMBER 14th, 1890.
A VERY remarkable meteor was seen on Sunday evening, Decem-
ber 14th, 1890, in the suburbs of London (Middlesex, Essex),
in Kent, central Essex, south-east Suffolk, and other parts. The
time given varies between 9.30 and 9.45, while every observer notes
its extraordinary brilliancy. The most precise account of the
phenomenon is that given in "Nature" (December 18th) by the Rev.
A. Freeman, of Murston Rectory, Sittingbourne, Kent. He writes :—
" On Sunday night, December 14th, between 9h. 40m. and 9h. 45m. G.M.T., I
had the good fortune to witness the display of a most magnificent fireball meteor.
It rose rapidly with a bright blue trail from an altitude of 6° above the horizon,
at a point 7° south of west, and in about seven seconds of time attained a
culminating altitude of 55° at a point 19° north of west. Two large trees inter-
laced prevented me from seeing the head of the meteor till shortly before its
culmination, but the light given out by it soon after its first appearance was equal
to that of the full moon, and at culmination it much surpassed the light of a full
moon in a cloudless sky. The ball seemed to be of a most dazzling bluish-grey
colour, and it had a diameter of at least three-quarters of a degree. The disk pre-
sented a nebulous appearance, with radiations within it as from a centre, but was
well defined, except on its lower edge. The glare was almost too much for eye-
sight, and although the night was very frosty, calm, and clear, all the stars in the
west became invisible. I turned to look again very shortly after, and at five
seconds from culmination found the meteor had become a small yellow ball, only
one-twelfth of a degree in diameter, and was dropping ruddy sparks. It then
disappeared at an altitude of 23°, towards a point about 51° north of west. My
impression was that this meteor was at no great distance from this place in any part
of its course (lat. 51° 20' N. long., 3m. os. E.). I noted the positions relatively
to trees and tall shrubs, and measured them exactly with a theodolite this morning.
To-day I hear that the fireball was seen to fall by a man in Chestnut Street, a
hamlet on the Maidstone Road, and appeared quite close to him. The direction
of fall accords fairly well with my own observation, and would make it descend
about two and one-third miles from me. At culmination I should say it seemed very
much nearer to me, considering especially its great apparent size at that time. I
heard not the slightest noise either of rushing or bursting."
We have collected a considerable number of records and print
those from Essex stations in alphabetical order. Unfortunately, few
observers give sufficiently accurate details to be of scientific value.
It is amusing to read the varied accounts as to the precise spot
on earth where the meteor "fell." A correspondent of the "Echo"
states : "I had the privilege of not only seeing it, but of having it
fall within ten yards of where I was standing, viz., at Stapleton Hall
Road, Stroud Green, corner of Albany Road, London." An inhabi-