BRIGHT METEOR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 14 May 1945, Page 4

BRIGHT METEOR

PHENOMENON LAST YEAR SCIENTIFIC CONCLUSIONS Wellington. This Day. In a preliminary report on the meteor of the night of December 30, based on 50 of the best observation* received by the New Zealand Astronomical Society, Mr. 11. A. Mclntosh, director of the society’* meteor section, states that the meteor did not strike the earth bur dissipated in a shower of spark* by a final spvere explosion at a height of 16 miles above the coast three miles north of Uastlepoint. Previously glowing with bright colours, it continued on its course after this explosion for another 106 miJe« « dull red fragment liefore dying out 12 miles above the sea. Jts luminous course lasted 30 seconds or longer, ’Flie meteor first became luminous 2tt miles above Garnet Peak. 76 mile* north of Christchurch, being then about as bright as Venus. After travelling about UN mile* it began to leave a broad luniinou* trail similar to the vapour trail of an aeroplane. This trail extended 130 miles to Cook Ktrait. which the meteor crossed from Cape Campbell to Lake Onoke. and it was while it was over the strait that it was seen by most observers. By then it was twice as brilliant as Venn* and appeared half the size of the moon noticeably lighting up the landacnpe. A first explosion happened a* the meteor reached the coast of the North Island, two large pieces breaking away and dying as they fell, and three more pieces wer# -hed in a further explosion over the Wairarapa before the final explosion. The trail hung in the air for 20 minurc*. during which it became deformed by air currents. The distances given are not likely to be more than a mile in error, i| is stated.

Apart from the almost horizontal flight the faet which impressed most observer* was the comparatively slow motion of the meteor, which is calculated to have been lli miles a second, stales Mr. McIntosh. whose report is published in “Southern Stars.*’ the journal of the soas this one did. cannot tj*avel slower than 8 miles a second. Some of those meeting the earth's movement may attain 44 mile* a second.

Mr. Mclntosh states that there have been more spectacular meteor* than thi* one but few have received such publicity because it came on a fine summer evening during the holiday* before bedtime, when many people were out of doors. When his report was written 360 report* had been received and they were still pouring in to him and to observatories and newspapers. Thi* large “fan mail "’ he attributed to the amount of apaoo newspapers gave the meteor and to some who saw if thinking of the V weapons and being glad to write about wh*t they saw. The report* were of high quality, many with ma)>*. diagrams and panoramas of the meteor's flight. Among them, were the best prose description, best IkAQnrama and best astronomical report* of the thousands he had handled.