Abstract
A MAGNIFICENT display of Aurora Borealis was observed here this evening, between 9h and 12h P.M. During the early part of the morning the suspended magnets were so much disturbed that I considered it useless to continue a series of absolute determinations of the magnetic elements on which I was engaged. The auroral display when first noticed bore a very striking resemblance to the effect produced by a brisk and squally wind passing over an otherwise calm lake. Magnetic clouds overspread the northern half of the sky, and were abruptly terminated by an irregular arch, stretching from the magnetic E. to W., and passing almost through the zenith. This arch was never very well defined, but it served for some time as an apparent barrier to the rapid passage of the waves of magnetic light from the N. towards 9h 45m P.M. The whole N. horizon was brilliantly illuminated, but in some points more so than in others, and from these points broad streamers darted forth, extending often from the horizon to the zenith. Several of these stupendous beams of light, many degrees in breadth, were sometimes seen at once, and occasionally the whole N. horizon shot forth these brilliant streamers. The colour of the beams was often red, but more frequently white, but many changed from white to red, or red to white, before vanishing from sight. The sky at times was partly of a deep red hue.
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PERRY, S. Aurora Borealis. Nature 2, 474 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/002474b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/002474b0
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