The Mineral argus., 1883-12-20
Painting the Sky Red.

phenomenon presenting all the characteristics Of thu
bright red atmospheric picture OF a week or tel
days ago. Shortly before 5 o'clock a red GLOW
began to light up the western horizon, gradually
spreading until a huge area Of sky was marked By
the blood-red coioring. The brightest aud clearesr
tinge was just before 6 o clock, after the sun had
disappeared from view, aud the effect
was marVelously pretty and brilliant. The
reflection seemef to oxtend TO every
thing in tie range Of oue's vision, giving
the atmosphere, the buildings, and the high
bluffs across the river a reddish OF dark pink tinRe
while, looking toward the Illuminated sky, il
seemed as if there really was a tremendous fire
raging at Minneapolis or away beyond. The red
J glow extended upward TO q great height, and f. was
after 9 O'Clock before The sky assumed It's normal
appearance. Tbs brilliant spectacle attracted
wide spread attention and admiration. A similar
display, occurring about en- days ago. was made the
subject IF extended comment BY the scientists and
newspab srs throughout the civilized world. Last
EVENING" phenomenon was much less striking,
though brilliant enough to entitle il to mention
a. a most remarkable atmospheric spectacle.
The display OF ten days ago has puz-
zled astronomers and the scientific world generally,
wide differences Of opinion existing IS TO the causes
leading to such a wonderful effect. At a meeting
Of the American Astronomical society in New York
on the evening Of the 81, the curious problem was
exhaustively discussed. One of the members said
the hrst phenomenon appeared in San Francisco
about Nov: 20 of the present year. 1t was then
supposed that the appearance was caused by some
hre burning In the West, although such a SUPPOSE
ton placed the fire In the Pacific ocean. Subse-
qnently the phenomenon was observed in the Mis-
sissippt valley. Il seemed as if it progressed from
west to east across the continent. But on the 9th
or 10th Of November, nearly two weeks before it
was observed at San Franc SEQ, similar phenomena
were seen in England. So widespread was the red
glow that the speaker soon formed the opin on
that IL was due to cosmical causes. He advances
the theory that the cause OF the phenomena might
be reflection from meTeOric dust. He also suggest
ed that the phenomena of the green sun seen in
India and South America might be accounted for
in the same way, The idea was discarded that
either OF these phenomena could be accounted for
BY the volcanic vapOrs from the island Of Java.
Certain II Is that soma very unusual condition Of
things exists In the atmosphere to produce the sin
GUAR appearances that have recently been wit
messed, aud the display of last evening will tend to
still further mystify the scientist and stimulate an
enort to solve the extraordinary problem.
EASTERN INVESTIGATION
New York Sun: A remarkable observation
was made by Prof Brooks, an industrious as
of Western New Y ork on Wedn, sdav
While searching with his telescope
comets, he saw what he describes as a
shower of telescope meteors near the SUM-.
This, of course, means that they we're near the
apparent place Of the sun in the sky. and not
literally near that body, for the sun had already
at the time, and if what Prof. Brooks saw was
really q meteor swarm, the meteors must have |
been in the upper regions of our atmosphere. I
supposed flights of meteors s EN- through tele-
SC )pes have occasionally turned ont to be
1OChS VI DlTuEs DuL an observer as careful And |
experienced as Prof. Brooks seems to be
would not be likely to make such a mistake as
'hat. Assuming, then, that he really did
zee an extraordinary swarm Of meteors,
remembering that meteors large
enough to be visible without telescopes
ND some OF great size and brilliancv.
rave recently been unusually numerous.
he suggestion that the red light seen in the
ky for several evenings past, long after sun
ct may be caused by reflection from clouds
meteorlc dust in the upper portion of the
atmosphere is not unnatural There are sew
raj reasons for thinking that the strange light
5 the result OF come such cause as the pres
nee OF meteOric dust rather than of differences
I density in the atmosphere leading to ezra
rdinary refraction. In the first place, the
has not only been visible over
n immense extent of territory, but il has
isted several days, and has been seen in the
asst before sunrise as well as in the west after
unset, so that any abnormal refrac ion ip the
would have to be of almost in
redlble persistence in order to account for the
bseryed appearances. Bes;d IS, during this
me there have been considerable atmospheric
IN respect 70 temperature. These
emarkable sunset displays have also been
ccompanied by a notably hazy appearance of
10 sky.
1t is we'll known that the earth il daily and
lightly pelted with millions of meteors, the
ast majority of which are a most instantly
1nsumcd by the intense heat developed as
ley uash INTO our atmosphere. The products
the combustion of these msleors filter slowly
OWN through the air, and have bien found in
10 shape OF metallic dust on the snow fields
the arctic regions, on mountain peaks in
urope, and in other similar localities, being
cognizable by their peculiar chemical com
osltlon. IL IS also known that the solar sys-
m abounds with sgarms of meteOrs revolv-
& around the sun, and that the earth crosses
q paths OF q number of these, occasionally ]
lcounterlng the swarms themselves. The I
majority of these meteors are very small
ose that are seen weighing on an average {
obably only a few grains; and since the tele- I
ope reveals millions which escape the naked
IL IS reasonable to conclude that millions
pre- are too small TO be seen, even with tele- q
meteoric dust. There are his q
nc instances Of supposed falls OF meteoric G
lst. the most remarkable, perhaps, being that
1888. when Europe, part of Asia, aud part S
North America we're covered for months r
dry fog, or haze, which excited The !.
eAtest alarm. Prof. Brooks gu question tbs. =
3 earth has encountered q cloud OF meteorie ..
- MOI, therefore,, without foundation in I
CIsDluty. Ii the recent blazing sunsets have
~ IosuIteu from such a cause, they are a
10 continue, IN a modified form, for some d
le, gradually disappearing as the dust sinks
yer IN the atmosphere. But, although 40 N
my reasons can be advanced which give =
1DAOllIy 10 the theory that meteoric dust is y
lcerned III the production OF these strange u
lset euects, yet IL cannot be considered a. v
lVed' and some better explanation NAV he b
ersu Whatever the true explanation NAV
n out 10 be, however, everybody seems To I,
.e In !ne opinion that the red glare in the lc
turing me last three or four evenings has
ID IN the sky for many wears. v