Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-04-18
AURORA
Beautiful Display OF the Northers
light ON Sunday Evening.

light ON Sunday Evening.
The storm which prevailed on Saturday
night and Sunday cleared off after sun
down on Sunday evening, and left the
heavens free. with q cold north wind
blowing. About 9 o'clock, as the good
people we're vending their way home from
church, a faint red light began to appear
in the polar sky, which gradually burst
out holder and holder until the entire
northern heavens had grown lurid with a
brilliant display Of Aurora Borealis. The
arch was irregular, and did not shoot
forth comb-like rays to form q Boreal
Crown, which lights the heavens towards
the east, west and north, presenting the
appearance Of a vast cupola OF fire, sup
ported by columns Of v~ariously colored
lights. The aurora on Sunday night pre-
sented striking peculiarities. Sometimes
the phenomenon assumed the form of one
or more curtains of light, depending from
dingy clouds, whose folds were agitated to
and fro as If by the wind. Some
times this curtain seemed to con
sist OF separate ribbons Of white light,
against q background of bright red, ar
ranged side by side in groups Of different
lengths, and attaining their greatest bril-
liancy at the lower edges. The light was
visible for several hours. keeping in con-
slant motion and forming new and beauti-
full shapes, when it finally became faint
and intermittent, and appeared to almost
die out. But at midnight it ~reappeared
brighter and more distinct than in the
earlier part OF the evening. The light
reached farther toward the zenith, and the
white ribbon columns were more numer-
GUS and conspicuous. How long the latter
phenomenon lasted the SENTINEL reporter
cannot say. AT 1870 the picture was ex-
ceedingly brilliant.
The light of the aurora has been vari-
ously estimated. The first observers were
inclined to place the seat Of it beyond the
atmosphere, but this hypothesis is unten-
able, as the aurora does not seem to be af-
fected by the rotation OF the earth, but ap-
pears to be in every respect a terrestrial
phenomenon. By taking observations of
the altitude Of the highest point of the
arch OF the same aurora at different sta
tons, nights varying from s to 500 miles
have been c~aleul- ed. The cause of these
widely different results may be found in
the probability that exists Of each observer
seeing a different arch of the aurora for
himself, and he is, in consequence, fur
nished with no comparable or reliable data
for his calculations. 1t is now, however,
generally admitted, On what are considered
sufficient grounds, that the Aurora Bore
| alis occurs at various nights, and that it is
seldom found beyond 80 miles above the
surface Of the earth. The distance Of the
stations at which the same aurora has been
visible, indicates the enormous geographi-
cal extent, and likewise the great altitude
which the phenomenon frequently attains.
The noise that is alleged to accompany the
Aurora Borealis in high attitudes would
indicate for it comparatively moderate
light. Some of those who have heard
it compare it to the noise that is
| produced by the rolling of one
| piece of silk Upon another; and others, to
the sound Of the wind blowing against the
flame of a candle. In Siberia it has been
related that this noise sometimes resem-
bles that attending the discharge Of fire.
works; and that the dogs of hunters when
oyertaken by such an aurora lay them
selves with terror ON the ground. The in
innate connection between the Aurora
Borealis and the magetism of the earth is
shown by various facts. During the oc-
currence OF the phenomenon the magnetic
needle appears very much disturbed,
sometimes deviating several degrees from
its normal position, and appearing to be
the most affected when the aurora is the
brightest. The origin Of the aurora is as
yet q matter Of conjecture. The most COM
mon hypothesis is that II Is IN electrical
phenomenon; and this is borne out to
some extent by the great resemblance
which the light attending the passage of
electricity through a nearly vacuous jar
bears to the luminous appearance Of au-
rora. The theory prevails that it must be
caused by electricity accumulated round
the magnetic poles discharging itself
through the rare strata of the higher at
mosphere; bit how such conditions (f
actual) occur. is a question still in need Of
solntion.