The herald., 1837-01-31

Advertisements inserted in the WEEKLY HERALs, 81
square every insertion.
The AuRoRA.--On Wednesday evening last, an in
tere ,tlng and brilliant display of meeorc phenomena
was witnessed by thousands of our citizens. Abont
aquarter before o'clock, the writer Of this commu
nication discovered bright fiery appearance In the
southwestern part of the heavens which ne, for mo-
mcnL supposed must have proceeded from some burn
ing building, but he Immediately recognized the gene
raj appearance Of the Aurora Borealls connected with
some other phenomena which has been but seldom
witnessed in THE country At this time the column
of light slowly extending itself towards the
east its color being of transparent red, approach
ING carmins in the course of one two minutes the
Northeastern part of the heavens lighted up with
the pale mellow light mostly during the appear
Of the Aurora The planet Jupiter was about 10
degrees above the horizon and shone brilliantly; IN
short time the column of rose-colored light had ex-
tended itself entirely the northern part OF the
heavens to envelope the planet, and the dense
clouds, from behind which, the Aurora mostly throws
out its corruscat atons lay a'ong the whole hori-
zon, from west to east About a quarter past Z it
spread towards the zenith, from the north west and
just this time, splendid scene was exhibited. A
light cloud4aoaed rapidly off the dark mass which lay
in the cast and from behind it, brilliant streams of
pale yellow light shot tie deep red hue, which,
at this time had extended itself over nearly one half
the visible heavens at the same time corruscations
were shoohpg up from the north west and north-aii
appearing TO converge towards point In the ZENITH
and that point happening to be the constellation Ple-
AIDES, which.was just at the greatest altitude In the
of 20 80 minutes from this ume column OF
white light seen rolling towards the south IN ap-
pearance about 3 to 4 degrees in breadth; this waa
followed by the rose colored light, which expanded
and rolled together in darker masses, until II had
passed considerably south of the meridian During
all this period of time of the smallest size were
visible through it. their brilliancy not being much d
mnished So deep was the carmlne color, that the
which lay the ground and roofs Of the houses
assumed the same fiery hue, and reflected 1t back
again, as though the atmosphere was in flames About
9o'cock it had mssty disappeared; but after 10 o.
clock the same was revived, and continued un
Ill near H. after which no further observation was
made
To the lover ofnature was deeply interesting thus
10 study of those magnificent exhibitions of pow
er, whose origin is but little known and more partlcu
tlary so, coming as it did, in an unusual FORM
Captain Ross gives It as his decided opinion, that
the aurorais caused entirely by action of the suns rays
upon the vast body of icy and snowy plains and noun
tains which surround the poles and depends much
the depression of the sun below the horizon and the
of the surface which first returns the SUMS rays
at the point of incidence, which, if uneven will pro-
duce the rays known by the name of the merry dan
cers? if the surface is it will produce the beam
provided the cloud is tranquil but If not, the pencil
rays torch will be produced. Philadelphia u. S.
Gazette, Jan. 20
interval Of some months during which many displays
Of the Aurora Boreals have been noticed in this city,
ii appeared on Wednesday night with surprising brI-
liancy. Believing that brief notice of this pheno-
endeavored 10 state the occurrence accurately.
1t was FIRST seen about 6, p. NJ, in the form of
broad red colored arch extending from the eastern
point of the .horZen nearly TO the northwest. The
barometer rising, and that time stood at 80 IL,
with the thermometer falling, being l4o5 The in
tensity of the color varied at different times in differ
parts of the arch; but the western extremity was ge-
neray the most brilliant. The sky was perfectly
clear excepting long narrow cloud on the verge OF
the eassern hor1on. The whole OF the northern sky
was i!umiaa,ed, and tho color strikingy different
from thatof the remainder OF the Heavens. Shortly
after beams of whitsh lighi shot up from differ
ent parts of the horizon and about half past seven
complete corona was formed at apolnt little norlh
and east of the Peiades. Byan inspection of the
and about degree east OF the meridian and probably
corresponded with the tension of the dipping needle
or the magnetic zenith. The whole Heavens were CO.
vered with the Aurora, exhibiting in one place brilliant
white beams and in others mass Of rcd rose CO.
lored light in which the beams absent or inds
tlnct About this time, through small telescope,
Jupner and its mosns were seen distinctly, although
the Aurora then spread over II and the surround
ing sky. At the point of conveyance the beams
were bent as il were of the direct line which they
afterwards resumed. This pecuarity observed
also in the splendid Auroras of last year. The ap'
pearance of the Aurora was continually changing, at
one time fading amost away, and again flashing up
with increased splendor; probably its appearances at
half past 10 surpassed that Of every other part of the
evening. II differed from the Aurora of November
1885, in presenting colours Of an ntenser hue, though
white yeowish, while in that all the colors Of the
spectrum were represented.
Ii is probable that this Aurora was visible over o
great proportion of the United States, Canada and
the North Of Europe; and it will bs interesting TO
compar the hour Of It's appearance noted at differ
ent places Whether the intense cold of last winter
which followed, and indeed accompanied the very
brilliant Auroras that then occurred, viii also
pany this display question which the scanty col
lection Of facts will not enable to decide Ii is
certain, wever, that the thermometer fell rapidly
on Wednesday afternoon and evening, and that yes
terday was much ceder than many of the preceding
days.
The moon shone brilliantly all the evening. Daily
Adr, Albany jan. 27.
AURORA BoREALr.--A splendid exhibition Of the
Aurora Boreas was visible last evening, commen-
cing at six o'clock and continuing about four hours
The sky was most brilliantly illuminated, and pre-
sented 10 the eye most gorgeous display OF purple
and CRIMSON ceors exceeding variety, beauty, and
magnhcence, any similar exhibition ever seen in this
latitude. The lights first made their appearance in
the north west and the reflection of the rays on the
sky much resembled that produced by distant and
extensive confagration. They gradually extended
over the northern part of the horizon and reached 10
the zenith Of the heavens, radiating towards that
point as to great centre of attractions and they f.
nally dfused themselves in all directions in the most
variegaied forms imaginable playing all kinds of
fantastic tricks before high heaven" Nothing could
tha ofla n fbo ba ...l