From Nature magazine, Vol.22, May 20 1880:
A REMARKABLE phenomenon was observed at Kattenau, near Trakehenen (Germany), and in the surrounding district on March 22. About half an hour before sunrise an enormous number of luminous bodies rose from the horizon and passed in a horizontal direction from east to west. Some of them seemed of the size of a walnut others resembled the sparks flying from a chimney. They moved through space like a string of beads, and shone with a remarkably brilliant light. The belt containing them appeared about 3 metres in length and 2/3 metre in breadth.
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On July 30th, 1880, a giant bright, spherical object flew
over the city of St.Petersburg, Russia, accompanied by two other aircraft,
which were identical aside from their smaller size. The flight was observed
for three minutes, and no sound was heard.
(Paul Stonehill The Soviet UFO Files)
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From L'Astronomie Vol.6, 1887:
Luminous Points on the Moon. - On 11 May of last year, observing the Moon
at about 8 o'clock in the evening, my attention was drawn to two points reflecting
an extraordinarily brilliant light and of a kind that I had never seen there
before that day and that I have never seen again since; this light was iridescent
and surpassed by several times in brightness the most luminous parts of this
heavenly body seen in the same light conditions in other instances.
I have always asked myself since then what could be the cause of this iridescence;
was it due to my telescope? this is however excellent, whether in sharpness,
or in achromatism, and, furthermore, the Moon was very high in the sky at
the time and not one other trace of iridescence showed up on the edges; might
not that have even been due by chance to the nature of these points which
split the light in the manner of a prism?
These two points which I recognised on the following days to be the last two
of the chain which describes a sort of arc at the south of Plato and which
are to be found quite close to on the line which links this cirque to Archimedes,
were found quite on the boundary of the terminator, the light not completely
reaching their base. All the points of that chain are very luminous, notably
that which is to the right of Cassini and which I observed finally with the
same lighting, but they are infinitely less so than the two cited above.
A.FAUCHIER
Observer at Marseilles.
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From Nature, Vol.35, December 16 1886:
BETWEEN 8 and 9 o'clock on November 3 a remarkable phenomenon was observed at Hamar, in Norway. At the time there was perfect darkness, when, suddenly, a bright white cloud appeared in the sky, drifting in a north-easterly direction, and from time to time emitting brilliant rays of light in various directions. The cloud retained throughout its original form, and disappeared at last in the darkness.
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This account is from L'Annee Scientifique Et Industrielle, Volume 32 (1888):
Ball-shaped Lights at Saint-Petersbourg
The following occurrence was observed by Mr.Age at Vladicaucase. On 30th July 1888, at about 6 in the evening, a group of brilliant balls was seen moving along a ravine. Three balls could be clearly perceived: a large yellowish ball, having the lustre of gold, and two small purple balls, on either side of the large one. The slopes of the ravine were lit up with a purple light. About three minutes later, the balls became smaller, and disappeared instantaneously, without any sound.
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From Eclectic magazine, March 1890 (via Ron Dobbins/Info Journal):
Remarkable Atmospheric Manifestation in the South of Russia
The superstitious peasants of the Ukraine were lately terribly alarmed by an unusual atmospheric phenomena which appeared two hours before sunrise in a village called Loomlino, situated near the river Don. Many of those who were awake at the early hour stated that the "apparition" was of a brilliant red color, and assumed the shape of a crescent. It only lasted a few minutes and gradually faded away into a light blue color. Many of those who witnessed this remarkable appearance in the heavens state that it was accompanied by a loud rumbling similar to thunder. Others, who have more imagination, aver that the red crescent resembled a large dragon in its shape, and that it is a sure portent of a coming war or a great plague.
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From Nature, Vol.29, November 1 1893:
On Monday, September 24, about 9 P.M., a remarkable phenomenon occurred at Karingon, in the province of Bohus, Sweden. During a perfect calm a violent whirlwind suddenly arose from the south-east, carrying with it a quantity of sand, earth, and straw, when suddenly a bright light lit up every object and made the night as clear as day. This was caused by a magnificent meteor, egg-shaped in form, which appeared in the zenith and which at first seemed to consist of myriads of large specks, gradually changing into a star shining with a blinding lustre, and which burst, with all the colors of the rainbow, in the north-west, four to five metres above the horizon. When the meteor had disappeared the wind suddenly fell, and it was again perfectly calm. The phenomenon lasted about sixty seconds. The wind had throughout the day been south and very slight.
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Sightings Reported To The Times - September 1895
This item featured on page 3 of The Times, issue dated Wednesday, September 4th, 1895.
REMARKABLE METEORIC (?) APPEARANCE
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, - On Saturday evening last (August 31) I was walking northwest on the eastern pavement in St.Giles's, Oxford, and having just passed the entrance of St.John's, was still within the enclosed area in front of that College when my eyes were arrested by a brilliant luminous body which suddenly emerged over the tops of the trees before me on the left and moved eastward across the sky above and in front of me. Its appearance was, at first glance, such as to suggest a brilliant meteor, considerably larger than Venus at her greatest brilliancy, but the slowness of its motions, as it sailed or floated majestically across the field of vision, as if driven by a strong wind, made me doubt whether it was not some artificial firework. Expecting to see it explode or go out, I watched for a second or two till it neared its culminating point and was about to be hidden from me by the lofty College building, on which I sprang over the corner of the low stone wall of the enclosure, and, walking sidewise and backwards across St.Giles's, I was enabled to see it through the space between the old and new buildings of the College, as it continued its course toward the eastern horizon. It did not explode, emit any spark, or leave any train or track; but it became rapidly dimmer and fainter as it approached the horizon, and finally disappeared behind a tree seen through the space in question, leaving me quite uncertain as to its nature. The fact that it so perceptibly grew fainter as it receded seems to imply that it had not a very great elevation, and so far favours a terrestrial origin, though I am quite unable to conceive how anything artificial could present the same appearance. On the other hand, if a meteor, its course was many times slower than that of any meteor I have ever seen. I was too much taken by surprise, and too intent upon watching its behaviour, to note at the moment its course among the stars; but on observing the heavens after its disappearance concluded that its apparent path from my point of sight was from near Alioth on the tip of the Bear's tail, close under the Pole Star, through Cassiopeia, towards Andromeda. I hope that if any other of your readers saw it they will give an account of its appearance to them, which may at least settle the question of its meteoric character. I am sorry not to be able to give the precise time, as I had just left my watch at a watchmaker's for repair; but I think (subject to correction) that it was a few minutes before 8.
Oxford, Sept.2.......................J.A.H.MURRAY
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On page 8, two days later, these letters were printed.
REMARKABLE METEORIC APPEARANCE
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, - As Mr.Murray in his letter to you in The Times this morning would seem to be in some doubt as to the phenomenon, I may mention that I saw the same, or a similar body, on Saturday evening last at Margate, but the hour was about 10.15. The meteor appeared suddenly from the south-west and taking quite slowly a north-eastern direction, seemed as suddenly to disappear into space. It did not go near the horizon, but was lost sight of overhead. The body did not seem far distant, was of triangular shape, the base which appeared to me to be about a foot in length, being foremost, and as it disappeared I thought I saw somehow reddish sparks thrown off. Of course it may have been of "terrestrial origin"; but I am very doubtful, and it is at least curious that something so similar should have been seen at places so far distant as Oxford and Margate, on the same evening, although at different hours.
I remain, Sir, yours faithfully,
A WARREN MELHUISH
1 Down-street, Piccadilly, W. Sept.4
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, - Whilst rested at the side of the Spaniards Road, Hampstead-Heath, N.W., last Saturday evening, a few minutes before 8, facing west, I noticed on my right a brilliant body, which was doubtless the same as that seen by Mr.Murray at Oxford. It travelled from north (?) to east horizontally, apparently about 30 degrees above the earth, and moved so slowly I imagined it might possibly be a fire balloon from the neighbouring Wembley-park grounds. I heard no sound nor observed any terminating explosion.
Yours faithfully
F.P.REYNOLDSON
2 St.Augustine's-villas, Highgate.N.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, - We are disappointed to find no notice in The Times of a curious object that was seen in the sky on Saturday last, about 8.20 p.m., by two members of the family. It was like a star, moving horizontally from west to east at 2ft. (apparent) above the moon (?). It was watched for four or five minutes, and disappeared in the east, after travelling about a quarter of the heavens.
We shall be much interested to hear if it was seen by others and how it is accounted for.
Your obedient servant,
September 3...........................R.T.
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From Nature, Vol.58, October 27 1898:
A CORRESPONDENT sends us a letter he has received from Ballyarthur, in the Vale of Ovoca, County Wicklow, with reference to a curious object observed in the sky on Wednesday evening, October 19, about six o'clock. The object was visible in the south-west, and looked like a three-quarter moon. It was moving gradually from south-east to north-west, and appeared to the observer to go down behind the Croghan Kinsella mountain. It was of a golden colour, and was seen for four or five minutes. The suggestion is made that the object was a meteor, but it may have been merely an escaped balloon. Perhaps it was seen by other observers in Wicklow or Wexford, who could give further particulars concerning it.
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Also in 1898, in the Karelia region of Russia, a close
encounter was experienced by a ten-year-old girl, named Rita Nukarinen. While
walking through the forest, near Ladoga Lake, she suddenly noticed a giant
sphere that was hanging over the tree tops. Inside it, she could see 'humanoid-like
beings.'
(Paul Stonehill The Soviet UFO Files)
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