New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-09-14
TIE AURORA OF AU0. 90.
MORE INFORMATION DESIRED.

MOhE NfOhMallON
BY comparing the descriptions Of the Sunday even.
ing's Aurora, which given in the newspapers at
different and distant localities it appears that the
hight to which the flashes and streamers ascended
must have been extreme-probably several hundreds
of miles. But definite and authentic accounts
are requisite, in order to trace the phenomena with
certainty and to settle concusively the most import.
ant facts. This only be done by collecting and
comparing the statements of reliable persons who
noticed the appearance, with some csre, and who
retain them definitely in their recollection. .
As this Aurora appears TO be the greatest which
has visited the United States in this century at least
ii is proper that endeavors should be made TO ascsr-
tain the facts, while the evidence is yet att ansbe
The writer, having observed with care almost every
great Aurora Of the past forty years in the United
States presumes to suggest to persons who attentive
ly witnessed the display to send their written stats.
ments Of the appearances to the Press, put them
into the hands of men by whomthey will be improved
for the purpose Of semitic investigation. IT. 10 con-
sequence OF this casual invitation, any such statements
however numerousl shall be mailed to him. addressed
to . A. &C., New.Haven, Connecticut" he will un-
derske that the valuable facts or observations there
in shall be duly brought to light by comparison and
investigation.
The phenomena, ss seen by the writer-then at
West Point, N. Y.-eppeared, by marked condolences
Of time, appearances, and attitudes, to have been
identical with those seen and recorded by skal and
practiced observers at New.Haven. At West
Point four acts or psoxysms they have sometimes
been called, were especially observable. The fret
began with dffuse rosy blush, just visible in the
departing daylight tst 1885, local time), as broad
bard sing from the east and northeast horizon up
to and beyond the North Star and Alpha Lyrm and Of
equalbreadth throughout. In about ten minutes the
band had advanced its south line TO Alpha Aqu@,
and had spread to the west and north vita develop
nent Of steamers. This continued to advance and
spread until clock, when il lad become some.
what diffused and faded.
The second psroxysm was in fall progress when
next seen at about 835, and continued until nearly
O'Clock in ful vgor In this period the most observa-
BILE phenomena were as follows: A great abundance
and variety OF streamers, principally from tho east
NORTH and west, pointing every side apparently to
the magnetic pole; also, agorgeous bu. ever.varying
corona apparently at that poll, where the stresmsrs
net and terminated; also, IN vast assemblsge Of
auroIal strata clouds Of various huss red yellow
ard yellowisb whitel, which mainly preponderate1 il
dense sccumuations low down in the southern sky,
where they Lay like wirrow Of clio wish cloud entire
stretchpg from eette west and resting It's southern
line or boundary nearly even and level, across tho
whole sky, cutting the bright star Antares This,
with some fluctuations, may be taken to have been
the stationary position Of that limit for twelve min.
ues or more beginning at about s:4j II vac % well
defined and steady, as we'll SO dense, that II the
same was noticed in general altitude by stars other
wise, at places far south Of the locality above named,
the comparison cannot bat settle beyond csvi tho
approximate higbto the surora cloud in this remark.
able instance. Finally, in this period there formed
low down in the south-say about 10 or II minutes
before oclock-a single brilliant cloud, simlsr IN
texture to that above isay eight degrees long ana
two and half brosd-which moved leDgthwise, and
along levelline from the meridan 10 the west, crosS
ing in its course the two stars Gamma and Lsmbdsin
the Scorpions tail In two minutes, as was sferwafd
estimated it moved some twenty degrees, and W"
los behind the mountains. To this appearance inc
same facilities for determining approximate hight ms
be attributed Is to the larger cloud above desenoeu
The third paroxym ended about ~ o'clock, hsv's