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The Aurora Borealis

Abstract

I SHALL be obliged if you will put on record a few scattered notes which I took of the splendid Aurora Borealis of October 25, seen from Arthingworth, Northamptonshire. When I first observed it at half-past five P.M., a crimson glow extended in an irregular band from N.N.E. to W., most prominent at about 20° to 30° above the horizon. This increased in height and breadth until it nearly reached a point S.W. of the zenith, and about 15° W.N.W. of the star Vega. At this time the northern part of the sky was perfectly free from aurora; gradually that part and the whole dome of the heavens, with the exception of a section from W. to nearly S., became filled with luminous streamers. These, for about 20° on each side of N., were white, the others crimson striped with white or rather greenish light, but the green I believe to be an effect of contrast, as where similar streamers were distant from the red light they were white.

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GROVE, W. The Aurora Borealis. Nature 3, 27–28 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/003027c0

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