10 ON THE RECENT SECULAR PERIOD 



resembling the break of day was discernible through the openings in the clouds. 

 About 18° east of north was a broad column of shining vapor tinged with crimson, 

 which appeared and disappeared at intervals. A westerly wind moved off the 

 clouds, rendering the sky nearly clear by 8 o'clock, when two broad white columns, 

 which had for some time been gathering between the stars Aquila and Lyra on the 

 west, and the Pleiades and Aries on the east, united above so as to complete a 

 luminous arch spanning the heavens a little south of the prime vertical. The 

 whole northern heavens being more or less illuminated and separated from the 

 southern by this zone, was thrown into striking contrast with the latter, which 

 appeared of a dark slate color, as though the stars were shining through a stratum 

 of black clouds. The zone moved slowly to the south, until about 9 o'clock, when it 

 had reached the bright star in the Eagle (Altair) in the west, and extended a little 

 south of the constellation Aries in the east. From this time it began to recede 

 northward, at a nearly uniform rate, until twenty minutes before 11 o'clock, when 

 a vast number of columns, white and crimson, began to shoot up, simultaneously, 

 from all parts of the northern hemisphere, directing their course to a point a few 

 degrees southeast of the zenith, around which they arranged themselves as around 

 a common focus. The position of this point was between the Pleiades and Alpha 

 Arietis, and south of the Bee, having a right ascension of 42°, and a declination of 

 24°, as nearly as could be determined without the aid of instruments ; but this 

 comes so near the pole of the dipping needle at the place of observation (which is 

 about 17° from the zenith), and to the magnetic meridian, that we need not hesi- 

 tate to conclude, that, agreeably to what has been observed of similar phenomena 

 before, the columns arranged themselves exactly in obedience to the laws of terres- 

 trial magnetism. Soon after 11 o'clock commenced a striking display of the auroral 

 waves. They consisted of thin horizontal sheets of light, coursing each other upward 

 with astonishing speed, inspiring awe in every beholder, as something unearthly in 

 appearance. Those undulations which play upon the surface of a field of rye or 

 tall grass, when gently agitated by the wind, may give to the reader a faint idea of 

 the auroral waves. One of the crimson columns, the most dense and beautiful of 

 all, as it ascended towards the common focus (the vanishing point of perspective 

 for parallel lines), crossed the planet Jupiter, then at an altitude of 36 degrees. 

 The appearance was peculiarly interesting, as the planet shone through a crimson 

 cloud, with apparently augmented splendor. A few shooting stars were seen at 

 intervals, some of which were above the ordinary magnitude and brightness. One 

 that came from between the feet of the Great Bear, at eight minutes after 1 o'clock, 

 and fell apparently near to the earth, exhibited a very white and dazzling light, 

 and, as it exploded, scattered shining fragments, much after the manner of a sky 

 rocket. As early as 7 o'clock, the magnetic needle began to show unusual agitation, 

 and it was afterwards carefully observed by Tutor Loomis. 1 Near 11 o'clock, when 

 the streamers were rising, and the aurora forming, the disturbance of the needle 

 was remarkable, causing a motion of 1° 5' in five minutes of time. This disturb- 

 ance continued until 10 o'clock next morning, the needle having traversed an entire 



1 Now Professor Loouris, of N. Y. 



