Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 029.djvu/425

 And much about the ſame time, to encreaſe our Wonder, there began on a ſudden to appear, low under the Pole and very near due North, three or four lucid Areas like Clouds, diſcovering themſelves, in the pure but very black Sky, by their yellowiſh Light. Theſe, as they broke out at once, ſo after they had continued a few Minutes, diſappeared as quick as if a Curtain had been drawn over them: Nor werethey of any determined Figure, but both in Shape and Size might properly be compared to ſmall Clouds illuminated by the full Moon, but brighter.

Not long after this, from above the aforeſaid two Lamin, there aroſe a very great Pyramidal Figure, like a Spear, ſharp at the Top, whoſe Sides were inclined to each other with an Angle of about four or five Degrees, and which ſeemed to reach up to the Zenith or, beyond it. This was carried with an equable and not very ſlow Motion, from the N. E. where it aroſe, into the N. W. where it diſappeared, ſtill keeping in a perpendicular Sicuation, or very near it; and paſſing ſucceſſively over all the Stars of the Little Bear, did not efface the ſmaller ones in the Tail, which are but of the Fifth Magnitude; ſuch was the extream Rarity and Perſpicuity of the Matter whereof it conſiſted.

This ſingle Beam was ſo far remarkable above all thoſe that for a great while before had preceeded it, or that followed it, that if the Situation thereof among the Circumpolar Stars had at the ſame Inſtant been accurately noted, for Example, at London and Oxford, whoſe Difference of Longitude is well known, we might be enaabled thereby with ſome certainty to pronounce by its diverſitas Aſpectûs, concerning the Diſtance and Height thereof; which were undoubtedly very great, tho’ as yet we can no ways determine them. But as this Phnomenon found all thoſe that are skill’d in the Obſervation of the Heavens unprepared, and unacquainted with what