The Recent Aurora

Abstract

LAST night, between 8 and 9 p.m., there was visible here a very fine display of Northern lights, the finest indeed that I have yet witnessed. The sky was nearly unclouded, and the moon had not yet risen; a band of light forming an arc extended from west to east, under the Polar Star. It just touched, by its upper boundary, the stars γ and β of the Great Bear, and nearly touched by its lower fringe the star Cor Caroli; this gives some idea of its breadth. Beams of light extended from the upper fringe towards the North Star, with greater or less intensity, fading away, however, very rapidly. Towards 9.30 p.m. the eastern end of the arc became very luminous; immense beams spread up into the heavens, mostly parallel to the direction of the pointers. On the extreme east, a portion of the aurora presented that beautiful violet tint which is so relatively rare in these latitudes. Some of the beams towards the centre of the arc also presented this colour, but only momentarily.