Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-09-21
SHINING NIGHT cLouDs.~

Celestial Phenomenon Which May
Not Be Seen Again for Ccntu-
ries.
Since the summer Of 1885 there has
appeared annually curious celestial
phenomenon ut night. known as the
"shining night clouds says the New
York Herald. They have been visible
IN attitudes from 40 TO go degrees,
chiefly in June, July, and early August,
put later in the year in equatorial re-
gious. Twice last December they
we're reported from Punta Arenas, South
America.
One OF the first appearances OF the
clouds was described by Robert Q.
Leslie in Nature OF July 10, 1885, rs
seen about 10 p. m, near Southamp-
ION, England. A sea of luminous sill
gery white cloud lay above belt Of
ordinary twilight sky. The clouds
we're wayelike at great eleyation,cx-
lending all the way from west to north, |
and radiant with light closely resem-
bling that which shines from
white phosphor paint. As wit
messed in Bavaria at late hour
On three nights in June and July, 1885,
The coloring OF the clouds was pale
steel blue, gradually changing through
j 4 dull green to yellow and Orange be-
low. They have generally presented
eolors OF light tone. but the intense
pearly brilliance OF iridescent clouds,
and sometimes have an altitude as
high as 80 degrees. Some persons
have supposed that they are lighted
| by the sun. But, as observed last
July 10 in England, they were inyisi-
bic until 1918 p. m. when they be-
came conspicuous and were at their
brightest near midnight. ii has been
suggested that these sky wonders may
be formed by the condensation OF
gases elected from the krak stoa vol
lcano in 1888. But this theory is not
plausible. From their periodicity and
their enormous altitude 1t seems very
doubtful whether they belong at all 70
earth's atmosphere.
Herr o. Jesse Of the Berlin astro-
nomical observatory, referring TO
these facts in a recent circular. ap-
peals to mariners and all Others to
make observations on these clouds
during the next three months. His
: request is made more urgent by the
consideration that. as the mysterious
i phenomenon was never noticed till
i 1885, II may soon disappear not to b
). seen again for centuries. Herr Jess
( therefore requests that oil who OBJ
IA serve the shining clouds will record
i exact ATTITUDES and longitudes Of the
a place OF observation, the exact time
a The part OF the sky 10 which the phe
L nomenon is seen, form and color o
o clouds. also sextant observations Q
: the altitude OF their highest points o
Is precisely noted times, with spectre
/ scopic tests of their light.
H. BY photography the height OF thes
i clouds above the earih's surface ha
IS been made out as exceeding forty-fiv
* niles from this fact it has been in
he ferred that they may be of extra ter
IN rsstrial origin. perhaps revealing th
Il. existence of resisting medium in IL
N terplanetary space. II so they woul
az confirm the hypothesis Of Encke. base
r. on obse ryatloas Of the celebrated cont
70 which bears his name. that there Is
". medium pervading space which otfe'
NJ resistance 10 moving body just as I'll
h. air opposes the flight of a cannon-ba
IA Eminent physicists have long req
oh oned that luminiferous ether prevad'
Il. all space, aud some have supposed it
rel be highly elastic. but absolutely soli
or II the observations called for by He
Jesse are accurately taken and prov
that the height of the shining clou
exceeds the limits of our atmosphei
the result might be very importa
". addition to the worlds knowledge
OF cosmical agencies.
his The luminous night clouds have on
Ter been seen in the twilight after the 81
rel Is about ten degrees below the hor'
.he ION. They resemble cirrus or
VS. clouds. But the two can be dist
sal guished, because cirrus in twilight n
ties always darker than the surroundii
sky, while the shining night-clouds
i'm always brighter than the surroundi
In sky. As this summer may offer I
OF last opportunity for observing I
i mysterious phenomenon it Is to
ion hoped the Berlin astronomers apps
inn will not he in vain.