DISPLAYS OF AURORA AUSTRALIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20680, 19 March 1937, Page 14

DISPLAYS OF AURORA AUSTRALIS

To the Editor ot ’’ The Tlmaru Herald.” Sir, —On the night of Friday, March 5, there occurred a bight display of the Aurora Australis or southern lights. This display lasted practically from sunset to sunrise, and, although moonlight interfered in the later stages, it must have been noticed by many people. At the present time in New Zealand special studies are being made of the Aurora and it is very important to have as much information as possible about each display. Accordingly I should be very pleased to receive reports of it from any who might have seen it. Even the briefest of reports will be useful as it might indicate some point overlooked by others. In making a report the following should be dealt with as fully and as accurately as possible: (1) Time of observation, (2) place of observation, (3) condition of the sky, whether cloudy or otherwise (4) height and width of the display, (5) as exact a description as possible of the form of the glow (in this connection a rough sketch showing the position of any prominent stars will be helpful), (6) if they can be given accurately to within one or two minutes, the times at which any unusual developments occurred will be of the greatest use. Very few observers will, of course, be able to give particulars under all these headings, but this should not deter those witnessing the Aurora from making a report.—l am, etc., M. GEDDES. Director of Aurorae and Zodiacal Light Section, New Zealand Astronomical Society. Ermedale, Riverton, Southland, March 6.