The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
OBSERVING THE AURORA.
INVESTIGATIONS VILE TAKE PART ALI
OYER THE WORLD.


Pian Devised by DR.. veeder to be Carried
Out In the Arctic Regions and by Scores
OF Observers In Temperate Clime.-Re.
sons why Important Results are Ex.
pected TO Come from the Study.
scientific movement in which observers In
many parts OF the world will participate has
Just been set on foot The purpose is to record
observations Of tho aurora on n plan devised
by NJ A. Veeder. NJ. d.. OF Lyons n. Y. The
results are likely to be OF much scientific in
| terest and also OF practical value. Tho reason
for conducting this Simultaneous series OF OBJ
servations. and the practical interests that
may thereby be promoted. will be briefly ex-
| planned In this article.
Tho fact that scientific mon regard II az do.
sirable to mako these worldwide observations
80 that simultaneous records from all parts OF
| the world may be compared. Is shown by the
nearly endorsement and cooperation they are
giving to DIR. Needer's project. In the far mort h
Mr.. r. f Peary. who is about to sail for
Murchison Sound. Greenland where he will erect
his camp In IT, 30 north latitude. will give par
ticular attention to recording his observations
| OF auroral phenomena. On his way north he
will also arrange for observations at Godthab
| and Godthavn in south Greenland. Mr. George
| Conner an officer OF the bark Canton now on IA
whaling voyage will record observations in
the immediate neighborhood OF the magnetic
| pole itself near the northern part OF Hudson's
| Bay. tits expected that Father Tosi. n mission
| airy priest In Alaska. will interest him self In
| securing observations in that region where
auroras are more numerous than at any other
point In the world. Other records OF interest
will be collected in Iceland. Scandinavia. Fin
land. Siberia. Tasmania, and New Zealand.
1t is true that during the international polar
expeditions OF 1882 and 1888 many observa-
lions OF the aurora were recorded in high ati-
tudes, but no special provision seems to havo
been made for comparison with those made
simultaneously in lower ATTITUDES. 1t is now
proposed to remedy this defect Many OBJ
servers are being secured on the continents OF
America and Europe. and ocean observations
arc being provided for by the distribution
OF blanks and instructions through the hydro
graphic offices OF TIE United States and the
Deutsche Seewarte. Mr.. Robert H. Scott Sec
rotary OF the Meteorological Service OF Great
Britain and Ireland has presented the matter
Of cooperation to the Kew Committee Of the
Royal Society who have specially magnetic
and meteorological research in charge. The
United States Ministers at Stockholm and ST.
Petersburgh have brought tho matter to tho
attention of tho proper authorities in those
countries. Assurances OF active sympa thy
and support have been received from
many observatorles. particularly those de-
voted to magnetic work and to obser-
vations Of tho sun. Especially satisfac-
tory in this regard is the correspondence
which has been had with such institutions
as the Naval Observatory. Washington; the
Toronto Magnetic Observatory, and Harvard
College Observatory on this side Of the At
lantic; and Pulkowa Observatory. Russia:
Meudon Observatory. France: Kiel Magnetic
far nd
Scientific associations also are furthcring the
proposed researches in one way or another.
as, for instance the Astronomical and Physi-
cal Society Of Toronto" the Astronomical
Society of Michigan" the Rochester Acade-
my OF Science" Of Rochester. n. y. and others
1t is o curious and suggestive fact that mem-
bers OF the engineering profession appear to
be rs much II not more interested than
any other class. Physicists in several univer-
stiles also are in touch with the nrogress OF
the research and arrangements have been
questions that may arise that will be suitable
for experimentation to experts equipped with
the best possible laboratory facilities There
are o multitude Of questions in respect OF the
sources and method Of propagation of aurornl
luminosity that may come IN the course Of
tunity tor exceedingly interesting expert |
ments. The. relations between auroral phe-
more fully in the course Of this articie.' ure
such that there is certain to be Increasing in |
terest on the part OF all who arc Interested in |
The method Of observation which it is pro-
posed to employ i very simple and requires
will indicate on blanks eupplied for the pur-
pose the absence Of the aurora. Whenever |
will enter the figures denotlng the exact time |
at which the observation was made In the |
in Of S s ON m es
by writing the word aurora and recording |
the descriptive matter on the part of the sheet
The facts which it is especially desired to
learn are the exact times OF sudden changes
tent Of sky which it covers. and its position
relative to the true north. In case observa-
sa rS not neS sani !sss prsaea n
way covers an entire month. and Is convent
emily arranged so as to ena Die comparisons to
This scheme OF observation has been in
Veeder. 1t is found that when the times are
accurately given in the manner described. and
the absence well the Of the
regard to the local Distribution, and the
source source q aproral luminosity are b. ought to
II regard to the various forms of ,periodieity
lair to be Of the utmost importance in various
ways; 0f these perhaps the most Interesting
which exhibit a definite relation to certain
hours OF local time. even in the Arctic regions.
where observation is possible in winter with
put interruption throughout the entire twenty
Tour hours. 1t IL also found that these auroral
phenomena are particularly noticeable at In
leryals Of twenty and one.quarter days.
correspondlng to the time Of "A synodc revolu-
ton OF the sun. or In other words, Il revolution
Of the sun on its axis as viewed from the
earth. which is advancing in its orbit in
the same direction in which the sun is re-
1F 4Xs has Hasc
IRE some Of the facts ana differences already
obtained by this method OF research which
Justify its proposed continuance and enlarge
mont The writer is wholly indebted for this
Information to DR.. Needer
Terrestrial magnetism mas thus far been but
n regard to the local distribution OF the au-
ORA and the periodicities which 1t maniiests.
Intimately associated MS they are with like per |
'uliarlties in the behavior OF terrestrial mag
ietic phenomena In general Justify the OK
,ectatlon that It Will shortly become possible
2 give simple and complete, explana-
magnetic system OF the globe and OF the
hanges which 1t undereoes. Not only the
veil known eleven-year cycle. but also the
ocular changes requiring centuries for their
aal