[ i89 ] 



An Account of an AURORA BOREALIS/f« in full Sunjhim. 

 By the Rev. HENRY USSHER, D.D. F.R.S. and M.R.LA. 



X HE following phasnomenon being very uncommon, if not Read Dec. 

 entirely new, I think it worth communicating to the Academy, 

 principally with a view to learn whether any other perfon has 

 obferved a fimilar one at any time. 



• On Saturday night, May 24, 1788, there was a very bright 

 aurora borealis, the corufcating rays of which united, as ufual, 

 in the pole of the dipping needle. I have always obferved that 

 an aurora borealis renders the ftars remarkably unfteady in the 

 telefcope. The next morning, about eleven, finding the ftars 

 flutter much, I exanained the ftate of the fky, and faw whitilh 

 rays afcending from every part of the horizon, all tending to the 

 pole of the dipping needle, where at their union they formed a 

 fmall thin and white canopy, fimilar to the luminous one exhi- 

 bited by an aurora in the night. Thefe rays corufcated or fhivered 

 from the horizon to their point of union. 



These 



