124 Noves 10 THE Exrra OpservaTions OF Macnerometers, Aucust 29—NoveEMBER 17, 18465, 
NOTES ON THE AURORA BOREALES SEEN AT MAKERSTOUN. 
. m. 
Aug. 29 10 20. The belt portion of the arch does not join directly with the wisp portion, but has a twist a few 
degrees to S. of the zenith, the direction of the belt near the junction is at right angles to the di 
rection of the wisps. 
20. <A falling star to E., altitude 20°, moving towards E by S., first magnitude. 
24. The belt has shifted slowly to 10° S. of the zenith ; the portion to westward is now of a homoge- 
neous character ; patches or wisps still in the zenith; fading to E. 
The light has always been very persistent ; no corruscations or pulsations being discernible. 
35. The band has the appearance of a rope of two strands teased out at the ends, extending from 
to a little past zenith. . 
45. The bandstill subsists to W.,a few small patches to SSE., altitude 70°. A shooting star to SSW., 
altitude 30°, moving S. The aurora has been always faint to NNW. 
55. The band has all disappeared except a small portion to WSW., which has assumed the form of t 
short streamers. 
11 0. Almost every trace of aurora has now disappeared; there is still a very faint light to NNW. 
50. Aurora becoming rather brighter, still quite diffuse ; patches of cirro-stratus and cirrus interspersed, 
55. A small shooting-star to §., moving to SSW. 
12 35. Streamers breaking out to N by W.; the aurora considerably obscured by clouds. 
45. Faint streamers thrown up throughout the aurora. 
13 25. Diffuse patches of auroral light. 
Sept. 210 5. Faint auroral light and faint streamers, 20° altitude, to NW. 
11 50. Occasionally very vivid streamers close to the NW by N. horizon, length about 5° (B.) 
12 0-30. A band of very faint light, stretching from ESE. point of horizon to §., altitude 30°, the breadth 
perhaps 10°. The light however was so very faint as to create a suspicion of its being an optical 
illusion ; it was certainly not the milky way ; no traces of it could be seen at 13 (W.) 
Oct. 20 13 5. Faint auroral light, with patches and small streamers, altitude 5°, Moon shining. 
Nov. 412 5. Diffuse auroral light, to altitude 6°, interspersed with streamers, some of which rise to 15° or 20° 
altitude. 
20. Aurora nearly imperceptible. 
Nov. 5 6 50. Faint auroral arch; azimuths of extremities N. 42° E. and N. 72° W., greatest altitude of upper 
edge 12°. At this time M. Hansrren observed an aurora at Christiania, consisting of an arch 
of 10° altitude, with its summit at the NW., visible from 5}? till 84, when the sky became over 
cast. So that 44° farther north the aurora has had no greater altitude than at Makerstoun.— 
Mem. Acad. Roy. de Belgique, tome xx. 
Nov. 17 6 40. Faint auroral arch, about 7° altitude. 55™. Auroral arch, altitude 13°. 
7 5. Arch has become diffuse and broken, extends from N. 38° E. to N. 82° W., altitude 123°. 15™)_ 
The arch has now a depression at the middle, about 3° east of the magnetic meridian ; a faint } 
patch to N by E., altitude 26°. 
20-25. A portion of another arch, altitude 27°, also some appearance of a third arch close to the 
horizon ; streamers throughout the aurora from the horizon; the whole seen as through a fog. 
30. The upper arch gone; a bright patch due W. moving a little to S.; streamers to NNE. 
35. Auroral arch to 'N., in the form of a segment of a circle, altitude 113°; the western extremity of | 
an arch has for med, which, if completed, would have been about 30° altitude ; this had disappeared | 
at 39™; the aurora altogether diminished. a 
42. Very faint ; moon rising. 
45. Arch becoming rather more vivid, dark space below it, with small streaks of cloud to N. and N 
by W.; strips of cirro-stratus to NNE. 50™. Nearly as before. 55™. A faint streamer to NW. 
within the arch. There have been patches of cirro-stratus among the aurora almost the whole 
time. 
7 57-59. The auroral light, which had sprung up towards NE., rolled gradually westward in the dal 
space under the arch (like fire sweeping along a heath in a dark night), breaking at one time i 
two opposing combs, the teeth vertical. At 59™ a bright meteor, first magnitude, fell vertically 
from an altitude of about 25° above N NW., (i. ¢., in the - magnetic meridian) ; it moved with consi 
derable slowness, occupying perhaps two or three seconds, till it met the auroral arch, when it 
was suddenly and completely extinguished, | 
8 50. Double arch, the upper one 12° altitude, and the lower 4° altitude ; the lower archis the most vivi 
a brush to NW. ; ; at 46™ and again at 52™ irregular streaks of cirri to S. 55™. Bright masses a 
light forming to N by E., proceeding westwards and forming a portion of an arch 8° altitud 
58m, Bright brush to N by E.; bright horizontal band to N., altitude 3°. 59™, Brushes 
patches scattered throughout the aurora. 
