Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE AURORA BOREALIS.

THE AURORA BOREALIS.
LECTURE PROFESSOR POTTER UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.
| take (said the Professor) for the subject of my
lecture, "The Aurora Borealis," knowing no sub
iect which be of greater interest than this me-
teor, well in regard to the popular history Of its
appearances, as in regard to the discussion of its
causes by scientific men.
There is no reason to doubt that it has been wit
messed as long as the human race have inhabited
high northern ATTITUDES, and under the same forms
as we see it in these ages. When seen frequently
it has ceased to be regarded with awe or supersti-
ton. In the latitudes in the middle and southern
parts of Europe, the more imposing displays occur
only at considerable intervals of time, and there
are recorded intervals in which it had scarcely been
seen in any form. In such countries, and after
such periods, an observer of one of the more mag.
nifcent displays would be impressed with all the
feelings Of wonder and apprehension which new
and terrific exhibition occurring by night could
produce: and such considerations should lead us
to view with indulgence the superstitious records
of less enlightened ages.
| shall show presently that the greater number
of the appearances of prodgies portents and signs
recorded seen in the heavens by night, are dis
tlnctly referable to the various forms of the Aurora
Borealis; but, in the first place, / must describe
them
DR.. Dalton, in his Meteorology, describes the APP
pearances as of four kinds list horizontal LIGHT
in the magnetic north, like the morning aurora or
break Of day; and hence the name Aurora Borea-
lis, first applied by Gassend 3D. The slender
beams, well defined, of dense light, seldom contn
ung at rest so long minute, but more fire.
quently having quick lateral motion. Their d
recton is parallel to the dipping needle. 3d. Flash
es pointing upwards, like the beams, which they
always succeed, -momentary, with no lateral mo
ton, but repeated many times in minute, broader
and more ditfuse than the beams they sometimes
fuctuate, but continue for hours. 4h. Arches
nearly in the form of rainbows. To these of DIR
Dalton we may add a fifth form of nebulous ireg.
ular masses and bands.
All recorded appearances can be referred to the
above five forms, with their notifications; as, 70
instance, the nebulous mass sometimes become;
broken up into small heecy parts or takes a cur
died appearance. The light is sometimes colored
chiefly carmne, red, and pale green. One extrem
ity Of an arch only, is sometimes seen projecting
above the eastern or western horizon and has thel
been taken for a beam sngularly permanent. TIL,
beams are now admitted to be parallel to the mag
netc dipping needle, and hence, when they cove
large part Of the sky, they appear, according t
the laws OF perspective, to converge towards thu
point in the heavens to which the dipping need
points, and there form what is called the corona
This. being formed by the apparent concourse O
many beams and flashes, is sometimes very magni
fcent; shining with bright, Pickering, and some
times colored light. Its position here is about 3
deg. from the zenith, in an azimuth about % dec
from the south towards the east The arches ar
nearly, II not accurately at the right angles to tn
magnetic MERIDIAN by which we mean the vertica
circle in the heavenly vault, whose plane passe
through the magnetic needle. They are sometime
stationary for considerable time as half an hour
at other times they move southwark, rising some
times in the magnetic north, and proceeding south
wards until they disappear; sometimes being form
ed above the horizon On few occasions the
have been seen to move back to the north agail
butV VIII fhpir ali ohn
northern horizon was not very great.
The names which have been applied formerly
these appearances, are such as the following I'll
beams, coruscatlons, streamers, have been Gale
burning spears, merry dancers, bloody rods al
skipping goats cdprd SdltanS, unless this last ter
with the ancients was applied to the flashes Whe
q low arch was formed in the north, the space b
meath was called (Bothnoe) a cave or chasm Wht
the streamers covered a considerable part of ii
sky, we recognize the term Pithias as applied
the appearance Of the slaves Of hogshead. A
istote uses the terms flames, frebrands or torche
goats, Hastings lie says, they are seen of Il
color Of blood, and in the figure of cave or gu
Superstitious writer's have considered the yario
appearances as prodlgies and signs, and have il
aglned forms of flying dragons, celestial armies,
bloody heaven, bloody standards, &c.
In the extensive chronological catalogue, pu
lshed by Frobesius, at Helmstadt, 1879, the ear
est record he gives is for the year 500, b. c., VIII
great part Of a night.
400 b. C.-The heavens were seen to be on fl
and the year most pestllentia to man and beast
463, h. c.-The heavens were again seen to bur
and so, without any very distant ntermssion,
records come in long chain down to our o,
times but generally with admxture of fancy;
for instance, on a certain night horrible cave
chasm was seen in the heavens; on another ocC
sion, terrible images and vast chasm are reco
ed. In warlike times we have fances of scenes
war In the dark ages, the religious chronicle
give US descriptions which shock us with impet
How the meteor accommodated itself in the i
a9inaon of the behoders to the changes in
modes OF warfare, we learn without going very
back. On the occasion of the royal baptism
September 1905, the Court of France beino asse
bled at Fontainbleau, there were appearances Sc
IN the heavens, on the 18th September, and agf
on the day after the ceremonies, the 18th. II
latter appeared as cavaliers and foot soldiers char
ing each other furiously, some falling below TIN
horses, and wishing to raise themselves were ira
pied on by the Others Some, after having fir
with arquebus and pistolet, collared each other a
did not quit their hold until the stronger had !
down the weaker. 1t is recorded, however ii
the philosophers fell into one opinion, that the
signs and apparitions neither portended good /
EVIL, being eXhalations taking the forms of clou
and presenting themselves to the eye in the yaro
forms which were seen.
The first step to be taken in determining [
causes and origin of the Aurora Boreas is to fl
the region IN which it exists The greater numb
OF philosophers have been content to connect
with the aqueous clouds Of the atmosphere, fro