Auroræ: Their Characters and SpectraCapron, J. Rand
History
Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra
Capron, J. Rand
Auroras
1871, Feb. 11th.—Towards ten o’clock appeared in the north-west a very
bright light-bow of greenish colour as the edge of a dark segment.
Even with a very narrow slit, the line between D and E could be well
recognized and measured. The average of six readings gave 7·11 turns,
equal to 5572 wave-length. In a small spectroscope of low dispersion
which is arranged on Browning’s plan, a few more lines placed further
towards the blue could be recognized (as in October). Towards the red end
of the spectrum no lines were observable. The greatest development of the
Aurora was about midnight. Magnificent rays rose to about 60° elevation;
they had the same greenish colouring as the bow of light, and the
appearance of the spectrum also was exactly the same. I again obtained
two sets of measurements: the average of six readings in the first set
gave 7·10 turns, 5572 wave-length; in another part of the heavens at the
same time 7·10 was the result of four readings.
On Feb. 12, towards eight o’clock, the intensity of the Aurora was
already great enough to allow measurements of the brightest line. The
average of six readings gave 7·09 turns, or 5576 wave-length. Dr. Lohse
took observations later, with the same apparatus, and found from six
readings 7·12 turns, or 5569 wave-length.
Yet the appearance of the spectrum in the spectroscope of low dispersion
was essentially distinct from that of February 11th. The green continuous
spectrum was present; it extended from the bright Aurora-line to the
lines _b_ of the solar spectrum, and was traversed by some bright lines.
Between band _b_ and F, was another line standing alone, out beyond F, in
the blue part of the spectrum, a clear bright stripe; and just before G a
very faint broad band of light was perceived.
Amongst the rays which, later on, shot upwards, and were coloured red
at their ends, another very intense red line appeared in the spectrum
between C and D, yet placed nearer to C[20].
April 9th.—An exceedingly brilliant Aurora, of which the greater
development took place in the early morning hours. Magnificent red
sheaths rose up to the zenith. The spectrum was like that observed on
February 12th, only much more intense, so that the lines could be seen
and measured with the larger spectral apparatus. In the brightest part of
the Aurora was the dark segment; the spectrum consisted of five lines in
the green, and a somewhat indistinct broad line or band in the blue.
The red rays, on the other hand, allowed us to recognize seven lines,
whilst the bright line again appeared in the red part of the spectrum.
I could not again perceive the faint stripe observed on February 12th,
in the vicinity of line G. The mean measurements of four readings on an
average, for each line, gave:—
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