The sun., 1893-08-04
notifying the colored people that they are
not wanted there. under the pain Of the
loss OF their custom II he refuses.
Tho Aurora Borealis.


The Aurora Borealis has been regarded
as plaything and q mystery the thorough
study OF which, while OF scientific interest.
would not be at all likely to prove OF any
practical Importance. The attention which
students Of astronomical physics have re-
Gently given to the aurora. seems however.
to show that 1t offers one Of tho most
promising fields Of research. and that this
phenomenon Is likely to give the clue to the
solution Of profound problems.
1t Is this possibility that has awakened
more serious interest In tho study OF the
subject. Early last month THE Sun an
nounced that Simultaneous observations OF
the aurora were to be made this year In all
parts Of the world where the phenomenon
is observable, in accordance with a system
devised by DIR. NJ. A. vEEDER Of Lyons. N.
Y. Since then the number OF observers who
will cooperate In this work has been largely
increased. In fact. the northern hemi-
sphere. both In the high and lower latl-
tudes, Is now girdled with observers who
will make simultaneous records OF auroral
phenomena for purposes OF comparison.
Patient study and great deal OF 1t has
made 1t clear that the occurrence OF auro-
ras bears some mysterious relation to the
rotation OF the sun. Auroral phenomena
seem to be caused by solar impulse that
Is conveyed from the sun In one direction
exclusively; that Is to say, whenever an au-
rora ia seen, q portion Of the sun that ts
specially frequented by spots Is always to be
seen in one particular location Here is the
latest Illustration OF this fact:
On the evening Of Saturday. July 15
magnificent display Of the aurora was wit
messed 1t occurred at the exact interval OF
o synodic revolution Of the sun from the
date Of the brilliant aurora OF June 18. The
eruptive energies on the face OF the sun.
shown by the formation Of masses OF brill
liantly glowing vapors. were In the precise
location relative to the suns limb and the
plane OF the earth's orbit. which has been
found requisite to tho production OF au-
roral effects.
DR.. VEEpER's tables OF the recurrence OF
auroras are now reasonably complete for
the past two hundred years. and it is
striking fact that the study Of all this ma
terial has proved that it is possible to de-
termine the time Of the rotation Of the sun
with greater certainty from the periodicity
of the aurora than In any other way.
Meteorologlsts are taking great interest
in these auroral observations. particularly
as they are likely to throw further
light upon the solar influences that
affect the weather. It is already known
that curious relation exists be-
tween thunder storms and auroras. indicat-
ing that they have q somewhat similar
origin. and that thunder storms depend
upon q modification Of the solar influences
that produce auroras. Many Of the auroral
observations made during June have been
received by DR.. VEEDER. and they are chief
ly interesting for the evidence they give as
to the substitutive relation between thun-
der storms and the aurora. Auroras. as
observed quite recently. have been very few
in comparison with the number and size Of
the sun spots visible. and the explanation
appears to be that there has been q substi-
tuition OF thunder storms on very extern
slve scale.
In view Of all that has been learned. the
aurora can no longer be regarded merely as
a striking and beautiful curiosity; and the
fact that the study Of these phenomena
may point the way to the discovery Of i'm
portant truths will render research more
eager and earnest.