The Aurora Borealis of November 5

ON November 5, from 6.30 to 7.40 p.m., long after the last lingering trace of sunset had vanished, the heavens along the northern horizon were illuminated as if by an approaching dawn. A luminous arch of irregular shape, pale rose-lemon in colour, fluttered conspicuously as though agitated by a wind, portions moving north and south, others east and west, and growing and fading in intensity alternately. Between 6.50 and 7 a beautiful series of rays was manifested, projected apparently in front of the arch as shown in the accompanying illustration. Each ray, which was visible for not more than half a minute, faded away, to be as quickly replaced by others. They exhibited a slow bodily movement to the left, possessing a rotary motion, just as would the teeth of a revolving wheel. The arch itself was situated N.N.W., as will be seen from the stars shown in the illustration. The stars shone uninterruptedly through the entire luminosity. The temperature was 33° F., and the wind N.N.W.