Evening star., 1920-03-23
| '''bOREAL|S" LIKELY
VISIBLE TONIGHT
Scientists Believe Clear
Weather Will Again Re-
veal Spectacle.

Unless clouds gather tonight there
National Capital will be treated again
to the flaring illumination of the au-
rora borealis, or northern lights" ac-
cording to scientists at the weather
bureau.
The great display last night, seen
in this and other cities of the eastern
and southern states, was the subject
Of comment in Office and home today
among those who were fortunate
enough to have witnessed the lights
last night.
Mingled with comments on last
nights display were expressed hopes
that the aurora borealis would be
visible again tonight, and while no
authority would make a positive
weather holds good the northern
lights may tonight again cause won
der and awe
Prof. Humphreys, a physicist Of the
weather bureau. declared today that
there is more than usual likelihood
that the lights will be visible tonight.
in case rain or other weather dis
turbance does not interfere and the
present fine weather holds out.
1.-THE aurora borealis traces back to
conditions on the sum-" explained Prof.
Humphreys. indicating the sun spots.
have to do with electric emanations from
the sun, and showed that. since the sun
rotates but once in twenty-six days, its
face toward the earth tonight will be
| much the same as last night. and that
perhaps practically similar conditions
will prevail.
1.-THE weather has nothing to do with
these magnificent manifestations" Prof.
Humphreys declared, Except that clouds
can hide it from US. In fact, it prob
O 10 uNirp m right h1,f ~
not see it. The aurora borealis is far
above the clouds, it's height being sixty
miles above the surface Of the earth
The scientist pointed out that the
weather, nor are affected by the weather.
but that the lights did have an effect on
the so-called magnetic storms
This accounts for the fact that the
Associated Press yesterday expert
enced trouble at intervals, with its
wires. and that last night the local
telegraph company had some slight wire
troubles. The telephone company had
| more trouble answering calls OF patrons
who wanted to know what the lights
were" than 1t did as the result of the
borealis influence.
The search light" effect Of the au-
| rora borealis last night caused con-
siderable comment, coupled with the
lack OF any particular color. with the
exception of green shades at some
stages. Ine communal mOC1On Oh Tie
| awe-inspiring lights attracted atten-
| tion from crowds in the residential
section. who were able better to see
the lights than persons in the elec-
trc-lit downtown streets
Scientists at the Naval Observatory.
| the observatory of the Georgetown
University and at the observatory of
| the weather bureau observed the
| lights last night closely and are de-
ter1nined to make more observations
tonight, the weather permitting and
the lights being ''on duty"
The aurora borealis was visible in
| the far south last night, in some sec
tions the electrical display having
| been seen for the first time In years.
In Columbia and Charleston, 8. c..
! the northern lights were seen dis
| tinotly. and Montgomery. Ala, and
cities in Tennessee reported q re-
markable exhibition.
| Throughout North Caroline and
Virginia great bands of light flashed
| across the skies
| The electrical discharge played
havoc with wire communication
| throughout the south from early In
tho evening until shortly before mid
| night, tho only lines escaping with
minor interruption being those run
| ming south along the Atlantic coast.