We don't like
to take the step from one year into another without a _coup d'amitie_.
Besides all which, we are in the habit of considering ourselves at the
present season more than ever entitled to partake of the recreations
offered us, whether theatrical, musical, pictorial, saltatorial,
philosophical, or scientific. And so, while simple-minded people are
looking into the new almanacs to test the accuracy of the predictions,
I must try to fill a page or two with such matters of talk as will
bear reproduction in print.
First of all, among the discussions and communications at the
Astronomical Society, it is stated that the term 'meteoric astronomy'
is one which we shall shortly be able to use with almost absolute
certainty, as M. Petit of Toulouse has succeeded in determining the
orbits of meteors relatively to the sun as well as to the earth. His
conclusions are considered valuable, especially with respect to the
meteor of August 19, 1847, which, it appears, came 'from the regions
of space beyond our system;' having, as is estimated, occupied more
than 373,000 years in passing from its point of departure to its fall
in the North Sea, near the shores of Belgium! This is another addition
to our knowledge of meteoric phenomena which affords promise of
further results.
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