On the trail of the nature of shooting stars : Maltese observations of the meteor displays of November 27, 1872 and 1885

Abstract

The natural phenomenon of the shooting star, which is scientifically known as a meteor, has seen a steady development of understanding by humankind. It is not surprising that meteors and meteorology, whilst coming to describe different natural phenomena at this time and age, are linguistic brothers. In Classical Greek, meteors literally meant "in the air" and up to the 18th century encompassed atmospheric phenomena from cloud formations and rain through hail and lightning to rainbows, all phenomena now studied in meteorology. Some two hundred years ago W.H. Brandes and J.F. Benzenberg, two German students at the University of Gottingen, applied the principle of triangulation by observing the same meteors from two different locations. From the results of their observations they deduced, in a paper published in 1800, that meteors were of extraterrestrial origin. [excerpt]