260 Aurora Borealis of September 3, 1839. 
Arr. VI.— Observations on the Aurora Borealis of September 3, 
1839; communicated by Epwarp C. Herrick, Rec. Sec. 
Conn. Acad. 
On the night of ‘Tuesday, the 3d of September, 1839, an ex- 
traordinary display of the Aurora Borealis was seen in all parts 
of the United States, and was probably also visible over a large 
portion of the northern hemisphere above the latitude of 30°. 
The public attention throughout the country, was much attracted 
by this display, and numerous descriptions of its phenomena 
were published in the newspapers. I propose here to give a brief 
abstract of some of these accounts. 
1. New Haven. Observations were made here by Mr. A. B 
Haile, Mr. F. Bradley, and myself, and doubtless also by many 
others. The auroral light was first noticed about half an hout 
after sunset, and of course while the twilight was quite strong. 
At this time the sky was much obscured by thin clouds, but these 
gradually dispersed. As daylight faded, the Aurora grew more 
conspicuous, atid soon presented a most splendid scene. So many 
good detailed descriptions of great Auroral displays have however 
already been published in this Journal, that it seems unnecessary 
to attempt in this place a very minute account of the particulars 
of this instance. Previous to midnight, there were three or four 
seasons of maximium energy, during which a large portion of the 
heavens was covered with a vast assemblage of streamers of vatl- 
ous hues, in which crimson and _ silver-white predominated. 
The exhibition was, on the whole, quite equal in splendor to any 
- which we have ever seen in this region. Several times in the 
course of the evening, the corona was distinctly formed, envel- 
oped, as: usual in a tumultuous, ever-shifting mass of Auro 
light. The mean of numerous observations of the altitude of 
the centre of the corona, taken by a plumb-quadrant, gave 74°; 
which is not-more than half a degree greater than the present 
magnetic dip at this place. Before 9h. 26m. there was but little 
undulation in the streamers, but about this time the Auroral 
waves began to show themselves, and soon flashed up towards 
the zenith with great magnificence. Low in the north, we saw 
at this time, what appeared to be short dark columns rising across 
the intensely luminous band which lay there, and then almost 
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