Extra Meteorological Observations, November 22 — 24, 1844. 325 



ADDITIONAL METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 



1844. 



d. h. m. 



Nov. 22 7 45-50. Thin cirrous clouds over the Moon, forming a whitish corona of two or three rings, the 

 diameter of the greatest heing ahout 1° ; below this a thicker watery-like cirrous cloud at 

 a short distance from, and on one side of, the Moon ; this cloud seems to move, but still 

 keeps at about the same distance from the Moon ; it forms a portion of a double corona, 

 which assumes various forms, being at different times elliptical, boomarang-slciaiped, cir- 

 cular, and square ; the order of the colours, reckoning from the Moon outwards, is — yel- 

 lowish, passing into orange, next a dark space, then blue and orange again ; the outer side 

 of the inner orange may be 3° to 5° radius, and of the outer orange 4J° to 6|° radius. 



Nov. 22 11. Growing patches of scud; woolly, linear, and watery cirri above; the watery-looking cirri 



appear to move but never to progress. 



Nov. 23 8 5. A band of nebulous light, like a broad and not very bright pencil of aurora, stretching from 

 N by E. point of horizon to 20° past the zenith, the upper edge of the band being 5° to W. 

 of the zenith ; a considerable quantity of clouds over the sky, the band of light being seen 

 through breaks. There are also two or three smaller bands on each side of the broad one. 

 10 m . Obscured by clouds. 25 m . A band still continues in nearly the same position, esti- 

 mated to be 6° broad, and consisting of six or eight separate streaks lying in juxtaposition ; 

 separately having a considerable resemblance to the cometary beam of aurora seen on 

 March 29, 1843. (See Volume of Observations for 1843, page 61.) The band can be 

 traced from the horizon at N. 13^° E. to S. 44° W., altitude 28°; at the centre of the 

 arch, azimuth W. 10° N., the altitude is 59°. 36 m . The clouds clearing off a little to S. ; 

 the band is observed to stretch to within 5° of the horizon, being there cut off from view 

 by a band of cirro-stratus ; the azimuths of the extremities are N. 8° E. and S. 13° W. ; 

 altitude of summit, upper edge 80°, lower edge 48°, the measurements rough. 40 m . A 

 meteor shot from j3 Cygni, at the summit of the arch, towards the S. in the direction of 

 the band ; N. extremity obscured by clouds ; S. extremity increased in intensity and 

 breadth ; the light dullish white ; a very bright portion to S., altitude 24°. 45 m . A streak 

 to the E. of the arch, springing from the S. extremity, has newly appeared, and ultimately 

 extends across the zenith. 50 m . The breadth of the band at the summit is 40°, extend- 

 ing from altitude 50° to zenith ; the structure as of a series of fibres more or less dense, 

 8° or 10° of it being nearly uniform. 55 m . Another measurement of the breadth of the 

 arch at the summit gives the breadth 51°, the lower altitude being 39° and the upper 90° ; 

 no error in the previous measurement, the arch having extended farther W. 9 h m . Sky 

 obscured by clouds. 9 h 30 m . Sky clear ; the streaks at first scarcely visible, afterwards 

 observed faint in the zenith. A streak observed, very fine and faint, in the same direction 

 as before described, its length about 10° ; gradually creeping up, increasing in breadth and 

 intensity, and afterwards extending over the zenith ; three or four afterwards forming as 

 before. It may be remarked, that the atmosphere seems very humid, a dull milky light 

 being around the Moon, while patches of scud are continually forming ; at one time lunar 

 beams observed, caused by the rays shining through holes in the clouds ; but the Moon is 

 completely to the E. of the bands observed and can have no connection with them. 

 It is very difficult to determine whether these bands are cirrous streaks or not ; but their 

 well defined edges, varying breadth and brightness, and great extent of space, leave upon 

 the observers the impression that this is a phenomenon of a very different kind. It is cer- 

 tainly very strange that the streaks should re-form in exactly the same position. The Moon 

 being neai-ly full (and at about 8 h 50 m having an altitude of about 35°, and being 50° to 

 E. of meridian), rendered it more difficult to watch the varying phases of this phenomenon. 

 No upper range of cirrous clouds was observed either to E. or W. of this band, which was 

 evidently above the cirro-cumuli and scud. Observers, B. W. and H. 

 There was a magnetic disturbance which finished immediately before this phenomenon was 

 noticed. 



ov. 24 8. Streaks of cirrus in different parts of the sky, all lying N. and S. ; some of them can be 



traced throughout the whole extent ; they have a considerable resemblance to the appear- 

 ance observed on the preceding evening but much less distinct. 



MAG. AND MET. OBS. 1844. 4 N 



