Aurora

Abstract

THE aurora of May 18 was seen here. I first noticed it at 11 p.m. (Dublin time), and watched it until 1 a.m., though I did not see either the beginning or the ending. It extended from west-north-west to north-north-east, and had a general altitude of 30°, though occasional streamers reached beyond Polaris. It was moderately bright, but certainly not brilliant, and showed no colour. About 12 O'clock horizontal streamers began to show themselves like electric search-lights, and continued for some time, their appearance being accompanied by a lengthening upwards of the radial streamers. The air was slightly hazy, and there was much stratus about, with detached masses of cumulo-stratus coming up from the west. Wind-force 3 of Beaufort's scale; barometer 30˙05, stationary.