Observations of the aurora borealis. From September 1834 to September 1839 / [Robert Snow].

  • Snow, Robert.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations of the aurora borealis. From September 1834 to September 1839 / [Robert Snow]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and Capella, filling the region of the heavens between these stars, and having the appearance of a vast but faint nebula; and in five minutes more another portion became detached, but soon disappeared ; and in a few minutes more the crown of the arch rose up into a rude cone of light, which soon separated itself from the main body of the Aurora, and passed over the Pole-star, and then melted away and disappeared; thus leaving three deep concavities or indentations in the upper outline of the arch, in the places where the masses flew off; but in about five minutes more the usual appearance of the arch was restored, and its intrinsic brightness pos¬ sibly a little increased.* At 6h 40m the dark portion beneath the arch began to be broken into, and invaded, in the usual way before the appearance of streamers, * The above wood-cuts are not intended for accurate repre¬ sentations of the Aurora : but they give a good general idea of the outlines assumed by the arch under certain variable circumstances.