The Aurorae Of 1870-72

[Weather-history]

I'm not sure whether people of that era reported natural phenomena more so than they do now or because light pollution wasn't such a problem back then, I suspect its a bit of both but I've never seen so many reports of aurorae as during that period of 1870-72.

Here's a selection of reports from various parts where aurorae were witnessed.

1870

2nd January: Aurora seen at Manchester.

3rd January: Fine aurora in the evening seen from many areas

1st February: Very fine auroral arch from 7pm to 10pm

10th February: Pale aurora seen at Cambridge

2nd March: Aurora seen at Winchmore Hill

13th March: A deep red aurora seen from many areas

22nd: Very fine aurora from 9pm to midnight

Aurora seen from many parts on the 2nd, 5th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 21st and 28th April

28th May: Bright aurora seen in the early morning

20th,21st, 22nd August: Aurorae seen from a number of areas.

24th and 25th September: Fine aurorae

6th,13th, 14th, 15th and 20th: aurorae, brilliant aurorae on the 2th and 25th October

Forest Lodge Maresfield: Several fine displays of aurorae were visible during the year.

Bogside: On several nights in November and December we had beautiful displays of aurora, so much so that the equals are very rarely seen in this locality; they extended over the whole heavens and were of all colours.

1871

February: several slight auroral displays.

April

1st: Red aurora

9th: Lightning and aurora in evening, brightest between 10 and 11pm

13th: Aurora

14th: Aurora

15th: Aurora

16th: Aurora

20th: Aurora

May

17th: Aurora at night

September

7th: Fine aurora

November

9th and 10th: Widely seen aurorae

16th: Slight aurora

17th: Fine aurora

1872

February

2nd: Aurora

4th: Magnificent aurora.

March

1st: Aurora

7th: Aurora

April

10th: Brilliant aurora

15th: Fine aurora

September

8th: Pale aurora

October

14th: Brilliant aurora

17th and 18th: Aurorae

24th September 1870

1870

[Weather-history]

[frogesque]

What I do notice is the accuarcy ( within the understanding of the day) of the descriptions and sketches. Our Victorian forebears certainly had a way with words!

[Cookie]

Sometimes I wish we didn't have so much light pollution