AURORAL RESEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 3

AURORAL RESEARCH

PREDICTING DISPLAYS CAN BE DONE IN MAJOR INSTANCES For tho first time since auroral work was started in New Zealand the actual prediction of an auroral display with certainty was made on August 22, states the latest quarterly report on auroral research issued by the Carter Observatory. During the afternoon of that day it was possible to telegraph to the two photographic stations in Southland advising them that an aurora would occur that night. The method used in this case may be of some interest to readers, although it needs a certain amount of explanation. In the past whenever an aurora of any magnitude has occurred in. New Zealand the Post and Telegraph Department lias experienced trouble in the form of earth currents on some of the telegraph lines, particularly in the South Island. At times_ these earth currents have made it impossible _to transmit telegrams on certain circuits, so strong has been the interference. The department has from time to time forwarded reports on such disturbances, and on studying them it was found that they frequently began during the afternoon before the display. An arrangement was therefore entered upon with them to telephone the Carter Observatory on any day when they began to vet disturbances on the telegraph lines. On August 22, interference hegan in tlie West Coast (South Island) area shortly servatory was advised of the fact about a quarter of an hour later. Telegrams were at once sent to Lumsden and Invercargill so that the cameras there could be prepared for work on the display as soon as darkness set in. A splendid series of 120 photographs was. the result. . It is possible that using this method the Carter Observatory may be able_ in the future to pass on such information to the wireless stations for transmission in their news session. By this means great public interest could be aroused in some of the larger displays. It should he noted that the method can. be applied! only to large displays. There is always the possibility also that the auroral’ activity may he’ finished hv the time darkness sots in, although this is not very likely.