Auroræ: Their Characters and SpectraCapron, J. Rand
History
Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra
Capron, J. Rand
Auroras
My description of this Aurora as seen at Guildford, and as given at the
time, is as follows:—“Last evening, returning from church a little before
8 P.M., the sky presented a weird and unusual aspect, which at once
struck the eye. A lurid tinge upon the clouds which hung around suggested
the reflection of a distant fire; while scattered among these, torn and
broken masses of vapour, having a white and phosphorescent appearance,
and quickly changing their forms, reminded me of a similar appearance
preceding the great Aurora of 24th October, 1870. Shortly some of these
shining white clouds or vapours partly arranged themselves in columns
from east to west, and at the same time appeared the characteristic
patches of rose-coloured light which are often seen in an auroral
display. About 8 o’clock the clouds had to a certain extent broken away,
and the Aurora shone out from behind heavy banks of vapour, which still
rested on the eastern horizon, the north-west horizon being free from
cloud and glowing brightly with red light. And now, at about 8.15, was
presented a most beautiful phenomenon. While looking upwards, I saw a
corona or stellar-shaped mass of white light form in the clear blue sky
immediately above my head[4], not by small clouds or rays collecting,
but more in the way that a cloud suddenly forms by condensation in the
clear sky on a mountain top, or a crystal shoots in a transparent liquid,
having too, as I thought, an almost traceable nucleus or centre, from
which spear-like rays projected. From this corona in a few seconds shot
forth diverging streamers of golden light, which descended to and mingled
with the rosy patches of the Aurora hanging about the horizon. The spaces
of sky between the streamers were of a deep purple (probably an effect of
contrast). The display of the corona, though lasting a few minutes only,
was equal to, if not excelling in beauty, the grand display of October
1870, before described, in which case, however, a ring or disk of white
light of considerable size took the place of the stellar-shaped corona.
What struck me particularly was the corona developing itself as from a
centre in the clear sky, and the diverging streamers apparently shooting
downwards, whereas in general the streamers are seen to shoot up from the
horizon and converge overhead. The effect may have been an illusion; but,
if so, it was a remarkable one. The general Aurora lasted for some time,
till it was lost in a clouded sky; and, in fact, rain was descending at
one time while the Aurora was quite bright. Strong wind prevailed during
the night[5]. The Aurora was probably very extensive, as the evening,
notwithstanding the clouds, was nearly as bright as moonlight. The
peculiar clouds referred to must have preceded the Aurora in daylight,
as I recollect seeing them at 6.30 as we went to church.”
[Sidenote: Aurora predicted.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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