* 
_ Description of a Halo or Corona. ye 
z . > 2 tig « ¥ 
Arr. TA Description of a Halo or Corona of great splendor, 
» © observed: at Grreensburgh,«Westmoreland. County, Pa.; by 
Aurato T.Kivé, M, D. «, 
* ae -s TO THE EDITORS. *% 
Gentlemen Ik. you consider the subjoined description of one 
of those meteorological phenomena, usually denominated by phi- 
losophers coronas or halos, which was observed in this town about 
eleven o’clock, A. M. on the 28th of August last, and which ex- 
cited considerable interest among the intelligent portion of the 
community, and apprehension and°alarm in the minds of the 
uninformed, worthy of a place in your excellent Journal, itis 
much at your service. 
This phenomenon consisted of from three to five circular belts 
or zones of light, one of which emulated, in appearance, the splen- 
rand magnificence of the most gorgeous rainbow. The ar- 
rangement of these rings was somewhat singular; the first or 
—— one, which had the sun in its center, was truly brilliant, 
exhibiting all the prismatic hues of the rainbow, the colors of 
Which were so dazzling that the unprotected eye could scarcely 
pon it amoment. This, I presume, was occasioned by 
the sun being near the meridian, and consequently many of his s 
Tays would impinge upon the halo, without passing through the 
ye ~ ag to the existence of which I attributed the forma- 
“ay NO. 1.—Oct.-Dec. 1840 4 
