stella prosiliens

Ex his fulgoribus quaedam praeceps eunt similia prosilientibus stellis, quaedam certo loco permanent et tantum lucis emittunt ut fugent tenebras ac diem repraesentent, donec consumpto alimento primum obscuriora sint, deinde flammae modo quae in se cadit per assiduam deminutionem redigantur ad nihilum.

‘Some of these flashes pass by abruptly like shooting stars, others remain in a fixed position1 and emit only enough light to dispel the darkness and give the illusion of daylight until, having consumed their fuel, they first become dimmer; then, in the manner of a fire which collapses upon itself, they steadily diminish and are reduced to nothingness.’