Auroræ: Their Characters and SpectraCapron, J. Rand
History
Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra
Capron, J. Rand
Auroras
On the 9th November (1870?) Mr. Barker saw at New Haven (U. S.) a most
magnificent crimson Aurora. At about a quarter to 6 P.M. it consisted of
a brilliant streamer shooting up from the north-western horizon. This
was continued in a brilliant red, but rather nebulous, mass of light
passing upwards and to the north. Its highest points were from 30° to 40°
in altitude. A white Aurora, consisting of bright streamers, appeared
simultaneously and extended round to the north-east. Prof. Newton
informed Mr. Barker that he had observed an equally brilliant red patch
of auroral light in the north-east five or ten minutes earlier.
[Sidenote: Red seen through white.]
Since the lower end of the red streamers was much lower than that of the
white, it would seem as if the red were seen through the white, the red
being most remote.
[Sidenote: Crimson line not seen in white Aurora.]
Spectroscopic observations of this Aurora were made. The crimson Aurora
lasted less than half an hour, and then disappeared. In the white Aurora,
which remained, the crimson line could not be seen.
[Sidenote: Carl Bock’s vibrating rays.]
It may be here noted that during the Aurora seen by Carl Bock in
Lapland, and painted by him by its own light (described, p. 25), he had
the impression of sets of vibrating rays behind each other, and in the
drawing it looks as if streamers were seen behind an arc.
[Illustration: Plate IV.]
_Mr. J. R. Capron’s Aurora of February 4th, 1872._
[Sidenote: Mr. J. R. Capron’s Aurora, Feb. 4, 1872. Masses of
phosphorescent vapour. Rose tints appeared. Aurora from behind clouds.
Formation of corona. Duration of corona. Streamers from corona. Rain
during Aurora. Wind during night. Phosphorescent clouds preceded the
Aurora in daylight.]
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