Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-23
EXPLANATION OF THE PHENOMENA.

ST. Paul, Jan. IA, 1900.
MEssRs. EDITORS In your paper of Jan. 9th,
YOU ask for an explanation of the phenomena
witnessed on the night of the 9th inst. l extract
the following from the journal of the clerk of the
weather, for JAM, 1851:
On the morning of the 10th, the beautiful sight
of two mock suns was again visible also at sun
rise and sun set, on the 18th; they were not equal
in beauty and brlliancy to those of last month, to
which alluded to in my frstlfeport.
"On the morning of the 4th and 9th, at sunrise,
the beautiful phenomenon OF two, and three mock
suns, was presented to many admirng eyes; their
large diverging rays of light resting upon the ho-
rixon a. a base, while from their. centres large
bright, luminous circle arched and spread around
old Sol, rising with him; while his two mock rivals
merged into still bright ring, continuing for
eral hours, and until its lower edge just dipped be-
low the horizon, its upper reaching to the zenith,
when it gradually vanished into the cold, calm,
frosty air, and slowly disappeared. The air hath
bubbles as the water hath and these are of them"
On the evening of the 10th, even the moon, staid
prim and modest rs she appears TO be, got up an
exhibition on her own account. and by most mag
nifcent display, almost eXceiled the beauties OF
her more ilustrious rival OF the morning. Not
having the good fortune to witness fair Luna'S
charms, | extract the following from the Chroni-
Gle and Register:
'sThe most magnificent sight we ever beAeld,
occurred on Thursday evening last. When the
moon rose above the horizon the radiation of
her light was reflected back upon the sky, and
three moons were visible at the same tme-each
distinct, bright and beautiful, and surrounded
with dark shadow, melting away into penum-
bra tinged on its edges with colors not much
dissimilar to the rainbow. When in the zenith,
this circle became broad and distinct, and the
moon shonc out in it like brilliant set in lead.
No language can picture the surprising grand,
Of %He sseAs, a~d thnSo rha ~itnossad it will
long remember it as most remarkable manifest
alton in the heavens.
These mock suns and moons are q phenomenon
often witnessed in the colder regions of the globe,
and sometimes in temperate cimes during cold
weather, and are called halos. A halo usually
consists of two concentric circles of colored or
refracted light, such as that of the rainbow; the
one forming an angle of about % l-2 deg. the
other of about II deg. with the sun or moon. In
different parts of these circles, and chiefly in OPP
po,itc points which the sun or moon at a similar
altitude, bright spots of unrefracted light are
seen, which have received the names of mock suns,
and mock moons, according the light is re-
ccivcd from the moon, during the contin-
uance of the halo. From these bright spots di-
verging rays or horns of light are most observa-
BILE. 1t is generally agreed that a halo is prolu-
ced by the sun or moons light being refracted by
frozen vapour in the atmosphere. The cause of
the parhelia or bright sun like spot is more diff
cult of definition. Some suppose it to be frozen
vapor being arranged in such manner at partc-
ular points, as allows Of the light Of the SIN or
moon being transmitted in Il concentrated, instead
of refractory form.