SEEING DOUBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10871, 15 April 1929, Page 2

SEEING DOUBLE.

TWO SI’NS OBSERVED

MIGHT HAVE BERN SEVEN

'J'wy “suns" were seen over the city of Rome and the Vatican City State tins afternoon (cabled < 1 dome Central News correspondent recentlyi. 'they appeared to be united by a luminous arc in the skv. Such a glittering; phenomenon caused a sensation among the population. Thousands -of citizens witnessed the sight. Many superstitious people took it to be a sign portending unusual events. A “mock sun" or “parhelion,” 01

“sundog” is a phenomenon due to the refraction of the sun’s, rays l\v ini no te ice crystals floating in tic upper atmosphere in the region of cirrus clouds (comments- the Daily Chronicle). As many as seven “mock suns’’ are luiown to have been seen at once. According 1:o a drawing in the possession of the Meteorological Utlice, this phenomenon occurred on February 20, 1063. In Shakespeare’s ■Henry VI.” the mention of three suns i.s made, probablv referring to two mock suns and the real sun. “In this the heaven figures soiiie event,” says young Richard' Plantagenfet. Hohnshcd says the Earl of March took the “three sunnerf.’ as a good omen, and so, fiercelysetting on his enemies, put them to’ flight (Mortimer’s Cross).

In olden times people regarded such phenomena as portent's of war or famine, or, other .calamities. A mock'sun )Vas seen in South England on December 27 last. It marked'the sudden change from the abnormal warmth of Boxing Dav to the cold wave which marked the end of. the year. Y : /"/.