Auroræ: Their Characters and SpectraCapron, J. Rand
History
Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra
Capron, J. Rand
Auroras
Mr. Norman Lockyer, in his ‘Solar Physics,’ a work of 666 pages, gives
but little space to the Aurora. The index comprises:—“Aurora Borealis,
connexion with sun-spots, pp. 82-102.” “Affirmed coincidence of spectrum
with that of the corona, pp. 244, 256.”
[Sidenote: Extracts from as to Aurora’s connexion with sun-spots and with
solar corona.]
Page 82. After referring to Gen. Sabine as having shown that there are
occasional disturbances in the magnetic state of the earth, and that
these disturbances have a periodical variation, coinciding in period
and epoch with the variation in frequency and magnitude of the solar
spots as observed by Schwabe, the author proceeds to state, “and the
same philosopher has given us reason to conclude that there is a similar
coincidence between the outburst of solar spots and of the Aurora
Borealis.”
Page 102. “We have also shown that sun-spots or solar disturbances appear
to be accompanied by disturbances of the earth’s magnetism, and these
again by auroral displays.”
[Sidenote: Evidence of American observers on nature of the corona
considered.]
Page 243. “What, then, is the evidence furnished by the American
observers on the nature of the corona (solar)? It is bizarre and puzzling
to the last degree. The most definite statement on the subject is
that it is nothing more nor less than a _permanent Solar Aurora_! the
announcement being founded on the fact that three bright lines remained
visible after the image of a prominence had been moved away from the
slit, and that one (if not all) of these lines is coincident with a line
(or lines) noticed in the spectrum of the Aurora Borealis by Professor
Winlock.” Mr. Lockyer then adds, that amongst the lines he had observed
up to that time, some forty in number, this line was among those which he
had most frequently recorded, and was, in fact, the first iron line which
made its appearance in the part of the spectrum he generally studied,
when the iron vapour is thrown into the chromosphere.
[Sidenote: Mr. Lockyer’s conclusion adverse to the question being
settled.]
Hence he thought he should always see it if the Aurora were a permanent
solar corona, and gave out this as its brightest line, and on this ground
alone should hesitate to regard the question as settled.
[Sidenote: Prof. Young’s communication to ‘Nature.’]
Page 256 is an extract from a communication by Prof. Young to ‘Nature,’
March 24, 1870, in which the Professor refers to the bright line 1474 as
being always visible with proper management. He also thinks it probable
that this line coincides with the Aurora line reported by Prof. Winlock
at 1550 of Dr. Huggins’s scale, though he is by no means sure of it. He
had only himself seen it thrice, and then not long enough to complete a
measurement. He was only sure that its position lay between 1460 and 1490
of Kirchhoff.
[Sidenote: He does not abandon his hypothesis, it having other elements
of probability.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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