AURORA AUSTRALIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1939, Page 4

AURORA AUSTRALIS

BRILLIANT DISPLAY VISIBLE IN MASTERTON. A striking display of the Aurora Australis was 1 visible in Masterton ana in many other places in both the North and South Islands last night. In Masterton the display provided a magnificent sight for the large number of residents who were attracted by the peculiar markings on the sky in the early stages of the Aurora Australis. Never before in Masterton as far as human memory goes, has such a biilliant display been witnessed in the sky The Aurora Australis first developed in the south-eastern portion of the sky and developing into a brilliant red worked its way across the southern sky, to fade out eventually towards the west. The heavy smoke to the south doubtless made the aurora more pronounced. The phenomenon made its appearance about 7.30 o clock and lasted about half an hotu. According to reports from elsewhere, the aurora attracted considerable attention in Wellington. Hastings. Dannevirke and as far north as Ohingaiti while in Christchurch it was most brilliant at about 8.15. Th° display is said to be caused bj particles from the sun being attracted to the polar regions by magnetic rays. When there is a display in the Southern Hemisphere a similar phenomenon is seen in the Northern Hemisphere about 12 hours later.