[15] "This is a remarkable example of a stone arriving on the earth with a temperature approaching that of the interplanetary spaces. Aerolites containing much iron, a substance which conducts heat well, get thoroughly heated by their passage through the atmosphere. But the stony aerolites, containing less iron, conducting heat badly, preserve in their interior the temperature of the locality from which they fall; their surface only is heated, and generally fused. When the stones are large, the excessive cold of their interior portion, which must be nearly that of interplanetary space, is remarked; but when small, they remain hot for some time."—Dr. Phipson.
[16] Silliman's Journal, September, 1864.
[17] The same explanation is given by T. M. Hall, F.G.S., in the Popular Science Review for Oct. 1866.
[18] This list contains nothing but aerolites. In the Edinburgh Review for January, 1867, we find the following statements: "Out of the large number of authentic aerolites preserved in mineralogical collections, two only—one on the 10th of August, and one on the 13th of November—are recorded to have fallen on star-shower dates. On the other hand, five or six meteorites, on the epoch of the 13th–14th of October, belong to a date when star-showers, so far as is at present known, do not make their appearance." The inaccuracy of the former statement is sufficiently apparent. In regard to the latter we remark that Quetelet's Catalogue gives one star-shower on the 14th of October, and another on the 12th.
[19] The date of this remarkable occurrence is worthy of note as a probable aerolite epoch. From the 12th to the 15th of March we have the following falls of meteoric stones:
- 1. 1731, March 12th. At Halstead, Essex, England.
- 2. 1798, March 12th. At Salés, France.
- 3. 1806, March 15th. At Alais, France.
- 4. 1807, March 13th. At Timochin, Russia.
- 5. 1811, March 13th. At Kuleschofka, Russia.
- 6. 1813, March 13th–14th. The phenomena above described.
- 7. 1841, March 12th. At Grüneberg, Silesia.
Numerous fire-balls have appeared at the same epoch.
[20] The innermost or semi-transparent ring of Saturn appears to be similarly constituted, as the body of the planet is seen through it without any distortion whatever.
[21] Origin of the Stars, p. 173.
[22] Origin of the Stars, p. 184.