Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-13
TIE RED GLOW IN THE SKY.
APeeuiiar and Unexplained rhenome nou Re
appears.

Washington Post. ]

washington Post.l
II will be remembered BY many how
great an interest was excited over the
whole world about two years ago by the
appearance at sunset and sunrise oil
beautiful CLOVIS above the sun. This
appearance was Of the utmost interest,
as it was prolonged long after the
usual twilight, sometimes assuming so
bright hue as to give cause for an
alarm Of fire in several cities, an in
stance Of this kind occurring on the night
Of November 29th in New Haven. These
CLOVIS were prominent in scientific dis
cussions for more than year, and their
origin has never been fully decided upon.
Two prominent views have been held.
Some think that they are simple in
classification Of the ordinary twilight
phenomenon, caused by the presence Of
moisture tc greater height than usual
in the atmosphere. Others have thought
that, since the CLOVIS first became promi-
nent after the great eruption of Kraka-
ira, they must have been caused by the
immense quantities Of ashes elected into
the atmosphere at that time.
The interest in this special phenome-
non was in part transferred during the
past year to the whitish glare about the
sun, which could easily be observed
when the sun was partly hidden by
clouds, or by standing behind the YER
teal edge of wall and allowing the
glare to appear beyond the sun,
the sun itself being hidden by the wall.
Careful observations Of this glare have
been made by observers in Europe, and
while there seemed to be some connec-
ton with the previous glow, this could
not be satisfactorily established. The
astronomers have been somewhat trou-
bled by this glare, as it interfered with
the more delicate observations. In
quiry at the Naval Observatory has de-
yeloped the fact that this unpleasant
glare has largely disappeared within a
month, and that seeing is much better.
Another interesting fact must have
been noted by many, and that is the be-
ginning again Of the sun-glows. Last
Monday night, at 1880, the western sky
presented very fine spectacle. There
was a brilliant orange color extending
to forty-five degrees above the horizon,
and through this there were three streaks
of clear blue running upward from the
sun. This first glow died away in fiji
teen minutes, and was followed later
by secondary rose color, which lasted
till after $50.
Last night the same first glow was
seen at 1923, with its streaks, and in
there were the corpuscular
rays in the east, lasting for five min
utes from 1925. This first glow faded
at 1870, and was followed by light Sc
cond glow.
This second appearance, occurring so
near the anniversary of the first, is of
great Importance. If it is renewal of |
the first phenomenon it will be plain
that the Krakatra explosion has been |
wrongly ascribed as cause.
II, however, this is the last stage Of |
he original phenomenon which appear |
ed secondarily in the glares already F!
then it will be very interest
ng to observe the gradual disappear
lnce.
If there are ashes in the atmosphere,
and if they are now working down,
hen there ought to be some signs of .
hem in the rainfall. Observations /
would be valuable at any point in the
country in order to ascertain whether
he meteorological conditions affect
he phenomenon. Simple observations
nay be made of the time OF begin
liDg Of the first and second CLOVIS and
he time Of last disappearance. The
glare, if any, about the sun and the
haze over the moon should also be no.
iced. Scientists, by these obserya-
ions, hope to advance their knowledge
argely of this appearance, even though I
. final solution NAV not he attained