MARVELLOUS AURORA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 656, 7 May 1929, Page 9

MARVELLOUS AURORA

PHENOMENON BLAZES IN ANTARCTIC SKY LIKE A STORM OF FIRE BY RUSSELL, OWEN Copyrighted, 1925, by the “New York Times” company and the St. Louis “PostDispatch.” Ail rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the “.New York Times.” Reed. 9.5 a.m. BAY OF WHALES, Sunday. The most beautiful Aurora Australis we have yet seen occurred last night. It began at 7 o'clock and lasted with varying intensity till 10.30. Every form of aurora was seen—corona, arches, curtains, and streamer. Soon after seven came four w-aving curtains from west to east. At first they were white, but spots of rose began to glow iu them, blushing and dying down. Then the curtain almost directly overhead seemed to part, and a mass of whirling fire was seen glowing with rosy colours. It was like a gyrating storm of fire, so marvellous that It drew acclamations of astonishment from those who remained outside in the cold -watching. One of those inexplicable changes In the weather took place yesterday, with a blizzard from the east. The wind reached 40 miles an horn-, and the temperature rose from 42 degrees below zero to nine above. It was so warm that we sank deeply in the drifts. In cold weather, the snow in closelypac’.ed drifts rings hollowly underfoot, and will support without sinking the weight of the heaviest man. After the warm day the thermometer again descended to 32 degrees below zero to-night. The average temperature in April was 29 below zero, neax-ly double the average for that month x-ecoi'ded by Amundsen.