ENGLER — AURORAL PHENOMENA, SEPT. 12, I55I. 393 



The matter may have a wider interest when it is remembered 

 that on the evening of September 12th, at the same hour, a most 

 remarkable band of white h'ght was seen at Albany, N. Y., Utica, 

 N. Y., Hanover, N. H., Boston, Mass., and elsewhere in the 

 North Atlantic States, spanning the heavens from east to west 

 near the zenith. The following account of the phenomenon seen 

 at Albany, given by an assistant at the Observatory, is taken from 

 the Albany Arg-us : 



(Figf. No. 2.) 



"At eight o'clock I first saw it, and its effect was absolutely startling. 

 It spanned the heavens from east to west, and seemed of very nearly equal 

 breadth the whole distance. It was sharply defined. At its southern edge 

 it extended from the horizon through Zeta and Delta Bootis; thence 

 through Nu Pi Hercules, to and through Alpha Lyra. From that point 

 it extended to the south of the Great Square in Pegasus. The northern 

 branch in the east extended up through the head of Draco, and there 

 seemed to be a strong ray of light, very marked, continuing from Gamma 

 Bootis, while around to the north there were several parallel streaks 

 inclined at an angle of fifty degrees with the general motion of the phe- 

 nomenon. Three or four of these were noticed near the head of Draco. 

 At 8:30 it was observed to clear away on the zenith. The eastern portion 

 now consisted of a narrow strip, very bright clearly marked at the edges, 

 extending from Gamma Pisces through Alpha Lyra, and at the same 

 time seeming to be moving southwest, it being about thirty degrees from 



