The Aurora Australis of June 17, 1915

Abstract

IT is interesting to learn, as a complement to the description of the Aurora Borealis by Prof. Barnard in NATURE of July 15 as accompanying the magnetic storm of June 17, 1915, that a display of aurora was also observed in the southern hemisphere. My correspondent, Mr. W. E. McAdam, writes:—“Upon that day (June 17) there was an exceptionally fine display of the Aurora Australis visible all over New Zealand. Here at Dunedin it commenced at 7.30 p.m., and lasted till midnight. The glow in the southern horizon was quite uncanny in effect, producing the illusion that the sun was about to rise in an impossible quarter of the sky, and at an impossible hour. I have been resident in the Southern Hemisphere off and on for over fifty years, and have never seen anything to equal this last display of the Aurora Australis, a some what rare phenomenon in the latitude of Dunedin, 46° south.”