Photometric Observations of the Aurora of October 28, 1961, at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico

Abstract

IN a previous communication¹ the unusual fluctuations of the airglow green line, 5577 Å [OI], at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico, during the night of October 28–29, 1961 (0200–1100 October 29,U.T.), were reported ^*. Lewis² has now reported some observations of the green line at Lauder, New Zealand (latitude 45° S. geographic, 50° S. geomagnetic), for the previous night when a bright aurora was observed in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Here the Sacramento Peak photometric observations for this night are reported. Lewis's report covers the time period up to about 1235 U.T. on October 28, while the Sacramento Peak observations extend to 1155 U.T., and it is therefore possible to make a comparison between the northern and southern hemisphere behaviour during a concurrent time period. In the present communication all times are U.T.