* Astronomy

Large meteor seen in the daytime.

1853, October 28 d 3 h 57 m p.m. This extraordinary meteor moved nearly perpendicularly down, inclining to east. It was first seen as a circular body of about half the apparent diameter of the sun, being accompanied by a stream of light ; afterwards it increased in size to almost the diameter of the sun, and then burst into fragments, with an explosion. The report of the explosion was from 1 second to 3 seconds after the meteor had disappeared, and resembled distant thunder. The meteor passed over 15° of space, disappearing 30° E. of N. at an altitude of about 10°, duration 3". It was very brilliant, shining with a somewhat yellow light Soon afterwards, near the spot where it had disappeared, a band of prismatic colours was visible, being 2° wide and 5° in length. This phaenomenon when first seen was as brilliant as a rainbow, but soon faded, finally disappearing in about 5 minutes. Clouds were dispersed over the sky, from behind one of which the meteor appeared and afterwards vanished behind a second cloud. The above description applies to a station 1 mile W. of Beeston Observatory as seen by Mrs. L. J. Lowe.
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