Now! Then! John Hobson observes a fiery red star to the north over Barnsley

Excerpt

Full content pending custom excerpt:

At Birchhouse. At Measborough Dike, as I was coming home, I saw the appearance of a very bright star, as I thought, northwards, over Barnsley, pretty nigh the horizon; it was of the bigness of Venus, but of a fiery red colour. It twinkled like a fixed star, and was of an oval figure, the longer diameter being perpendicular to the horizon. I kept my eye fixed upon it, whilst I came to the top of the hill, when it disappeared at once, like the extinguishing of a candle, leaving no marks behind it. It seemed to be then about 20 degrees high, and the night was so cloudy and misty that there was not the least appearance of a star besides, which makes me think it was none. It was about nine a clock at night.

Order the book

Subscribe to the free daily email

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

I’m guessing this is Arcturus.

Something to say? Get in touch

Original

At Birchhouse. At Measborough Dike, as I was coming home, I saw the appearance of a very bright star, as I thought, northwards, over Barnsley, pretty nigh the horizon; it was of the bigness of Venus, but of a fiery red colour. It twinkled like a fixed star, and was of an oval figure, the longer diameter being perpendicular to the horizon. I kept my eye fixed upon it, whilst I came to the top of the hill, when it disappeared at once, like the extinguishing of a candle, leaving no marks behind it. It seemed to be then about 20 degrees high, and the night was so cloudy and misty that there was not the least appearance of a star besides, which makes me think it was none. It was about nine a clock at night.

138 words.