260 Aurora Borealis of September 3, 1839. 



Art. YI. — Observations on the Aurora Borealis of September 3, 

 1839; communicated by Edward C. Herrick, Rec. Sec. 

 Conn, Acad. 



On the night of Tuesday, the 3d of September, 1 839, 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. P. Bradley, and myself, and doubtless also by many 

 others. The auroral light was first noticed about half an hour 

 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, and 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 mirmte account of the particulars 

 of this instance. Previous to midnight, there were three or four 

 seasons of maximum energy, during which a large portion of the 

 heavens was covered with a vast assemblage of streamers of vari- 

 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 Auroral 

 light. The mean of numerous observations of the altitude of 

 the centre of the corona, taken by a plumb-quadrant, gave 74° j 

 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 



