254 



Marvels of the Universe 



are probably good enough, but the plates are not nearly sensitive enough to catch the rays, which 

 are always changing. On the other hand, it is possible to photograph landscapes bj- the light of 

 the Aurora Borealis, and on one single occasion I succeeded in photographing a rayless Aurora 

 Borealis arc. These large arcs rise but slowly in the heavens, and either dissolve into rays (when 

 they approach each other) and disappear south of zenith, or else return as they came. 



As I did not succeed with my camera, I made an attempt with pastel drawings. I often stood 

 for six hours at a time in frost and snow on the summit of Graakall Hill, sketching with my pencil 

 the forms of the lights. B\' the help of a good memory I completed the drawings ne.xt day with 

 pastel crayons, and criticized them at the next appearance of the lights. In this way I made 

 good progress, and after working day and night for four or five months, I think I can say that, as 

 far as the phenomena of the Northern Lights are concerned, my drawings are fairlv correct and 

 true to nature. 



It ma}' be noted that a landscape lighted by the Aurora Borealis throws no shadows, as a single 

 ray in zenith annuls all shadows. There is a strong resemblance between the light of a vivid 



.\urora Borealis and that of the full 

 moon. 



Last winter I made the remark- 

 able discovery that the light of the 

 zodiac has the same origin as the 

 Aurora Borealis, viz , the solar spots. 

 About every twenty-seventh day last 

 winter there appeared a vivid Aurora 

 Borealis at the same time as a strong 

 zodiacal light was seen at other 

 places. I may mention January 25th, 

 February 21st, March 19th and April 

 14th. Of these, the lights on the 19th 

 of March were the most vivid, and 

 displayed such unusual forms that 

 the like may perhaps never be seen 

 again. Some of these forms are re- 

 produced in my drawings. Among 

 these was a corona which appeared at 

 9.30 and 10.45 P-ni., and which could 

 scarcely be depicted satisfactorily by 

 any painter. A cinematograph would 

 have been necessary. From the 

 north-west sky there came with great 

 velocity a wave of light in the form 

 of a hollow cone, and consisting of 

 very regular green rays. As soon as- 

 this cone reached zenith, there ap- 

 peared round its lower edge an in- 

 tensely bright violet line, and from 

 this green and violet flames were- 

 projected with great velocity towards- 

 Bji perm:.<,w,i of] [The Romi Societit. and through cach Other, as may some- 



AURORA AUSTRALis. times be seen when the searchlights- 



TKis photo. taUen during Capt Scott's Antarctic Expedition, sKows how _ t_ i_ j. 



closely .he Northern and Southern Lights resemble each other. Ot SCVCral mCn-Of-War arC brOUghtl 



