Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-07
AURORA BOREALIS.

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sasru1assrxzrr'zssssau yszv-rzvsrsz1.ss.
AURORA BOREALlS.
The meteoric spectacle of Wednesday
eve. was probably The most imposing and
magnificent that was ever witnessed in this
latitude. We find descriptions of no such
appearances in former times, which would
seem to compare in splendor with this glo-
rious display. We seemed 10 be transport
ted into the Arctic regions, and 10 be enjoy
ing one of the most brilliant speclacles Of
Lapland night-whose splendors, as des.
cribed ly northern travellers, have always
before seemed TO us as gorgeous fictions,
whose exaggerati0ns shew that they could
not he realities. " no would not suffer all
lie rigor Of n northern climate to witness
one such a spectacle
We do not propose TO give a descrip-
ton Of the appearance Of those beautiful
phenomena, for description would only
confuse The picture which the scene has
left upon the minds OF all who Witnessed the
spectacle, and we presume there are but
few OF our readers who failed to see it..
Our object will be in this connection,
simply TO give some Of the observations and
conclusions OF scientific men in relation 10
reals.
1t is very remarkable fact that we find
nc name given to that meteorc appearan-
ce by the philosophers ofancient days. We
find no alusion 10 them in Scripture, and
the only allusion to them by the pagan
philosophers is the description Of PIiny and
Aristotle OF comets Of great size, by which
the Aurora Borealis must have been meant.
The first account which we have OF these
phenomena in modern times is in 1860.
There was then no temperance for forty
years. In 1920, anG in the three succec-
dings years, they were very frequent; but
for eighty years after, the phenomena were
not at all witnessed. From that time until
the present. they have been every year in
creasing in frequency and splendor.
The most important circumstances which
observation has discovered relative to the
Northern Lights, as we lamiliary call these
phenomena, are, and they occur only in
high Misunderstanding seen in the cold re-
gions of the Southern pole, as well as al the
north. They are more frequent and BRILL
ant, as we ascend the higher attitudes.
They are frequently accompanied by his
sing and cracking sounds. In some quar-
tiers they have generally preceded winds,
or storms: Capt, Parry says that lie found
in the Arctic regions that when they occur
ed Of pecuior brilliancy, that storms short
ly succeeded. Their height was formerly
supposed to be at an immense distance from
the earth. But the most remarkable cir
cumslact is that discovered by the late
northern navigaiors that the Aurora Borea
lis generally affects the magnetic needle.
Capt.Back, after series of accurate obser-
walton made for several months, found that
the needle was always agiiaied when the
Aurora was vivid-the attraction being
sometimes as much as eight degrees.
Various theories have been formed to
account for the Aurora BorcaIis but the
most satisfactory one seems to be that
which attributes the phenomena TO the
passage OF, electric matter through the al
mosphere. This matter when passing
through the air rarifed TO the same degree
as The upper regions oflhe atmosphere, has
precisely the same appearance as the Auro-
ra Boreais. AS modern discoveries have
shown electricity and magnetism 10 he he
same, or SO close " connected-the effect OF
the Aurora upon the magnet needle would
seem 10 show that luminous matter Of the
Aurora is electric. The Kissing and crack
ling sounds which attend the aurora would
show the same thing. 1t IS obvious how
this electricity would he formed. The
vapor constantly rising from the northern
seas is full of electricity. When the vapor
falls to the earth in rain or snow, the cleo
tr lefty is left in the atmosphere. II cannot
descend into the earth as in warm climates,
for its passage is stepped by ice anG snow
which are nonconductOrs of electricity.
As it bec0ms condensed and collected, il has
no passage into the earth. 1t rises, and rs
il extends into The upper regions Of the al
mosphere, exhibits all the varied and spen-
did phenomena of the Aurora BorcaIis.
The electric matter, we presume rises per-
penGicuIar from the earth but the umin-
Gus matter appears 10 us TO rise in curves
from the horizon towards the zenith. And
when it is most brilliant, as was very con-
spicuous on Wednesday evening,-it seems
TO rise from every quarter of the heavens in
vertical streams, and collect in a pon, at
the south, like flames curling round the top
Of an oven. This is merely an optical illu-
sion, as are most OF the appearances OF the
sky. The apparent point of meeting is or
~ the most distant point, and upon the prin-
ciples OF the perspective, the most distant
points will seem TO come together-as in
looking between two rows of trees, or a
long street, the distant ends seem 10 meet
Portsmouth journal.
The new CONGREGATIONAL meetinO Lnusr