( i8« ) 
one from the Eaft, the other from the South- eaft, and 
meeting together near the Meridian, but immediately 
afterwards parting one with another, and drawing back, 
which they repeated very often. 
Under this Zone then was to be feen, but not con- 
flantly, one or two Arches lucid and interrupted, which 
comprehended v/ith the Horizon a dark Segment ve* 
ry like a Miff. ^ 
The Phenomenon did laft till Four o* Clock in the 
Morning. The Weather was calm, ferene, and cold, 
the Barometer very high ; no Cloud in the Heaven. 
It was remarkable, and I think extraordinary, that 
this Aurora confiderably darkened the Light of thofe 
Stars which were feen through it ; and that was much 
more true of the red meridional Zone, which dyed 
with its reddifh Colour the Stars that appeared be- 
hind. When that Zone was the higheft, it covered 
Jupiter ; and fome Gentlemen, which at that Time 
had not yet remarked the Aurora^ looking at Jupiter 
through a Telefcope, affirm they could hardly fee it, 
but that it it feemed as intercepted by fome dark Cloud ; 
and indeed it looked at that Time as if it had been 
feen through a red Glafs. 
This Obfervation confirms what is moreover very 
probable, that this Zone was produced by the Light o£ 
the oppofite Auroray either by Reflexion or Refradlio^ 
But the Manner of its Produdion feems difficult to 
be accounted for. There may be fuppofed Icy Parti- 
cles^ fwimming in the Air, and of fuch Figure as to 
exhibit a great Zone, by the Reflexion and Refradion 
of the Light of the Aurora^ almofl: in the fame Man- 
ner as the Drops of Rain produce the Appearance of 
the Rainbow. But this being meer Conjedure, I fhall 
pafsitover. Q^q Xhe 
