Review of Silberschlag’s Theory of the 1762 Fireball
Kant presents Johann Esaias Silberschlag’s book on a fireball observed on 23 July 1762, reporting the author’s measurements and calculations of its trajectory and brightness.
Understanding the text
Published in 1764 and reprinted in volume VIII of the Academy edition, the review reports historical estimates rather than verified modern measurements.
Key points
- 01
Observation
The meteor was reported across a wide region and compared in brightness with the full moon.
- 02
Calculation
Silberschlag reconstructs altitude, path and dimensions from the observations available to him.
- 03
History of science
The reported figures document an eighteenth-century method and require critical modern assessment.
How to read it
Separate observations, estimates attributed to Silberschlag and the reviewer’s own assessment.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗