Aurora Borealis, and Aurora Australis

[Lat.] (Popularly called in this country Northern Lights. As, however, the phenomenon is seen emanating from the South Pole as well as from the North, neither of the above appellations is scientifically correct. Polar Lights is more expre ive, and therefore to be preferred.) (Physics.) A beautiful and so far unexplained electro meteoric phenomenon, often appearing in the heavens in middle and high northern and southern latitudes, but never on or near the equator, its limits of visibility being confined to zones of about 60° radius surrounding either pole, and often simultaneously appearing at each. It exhibits itself under at least seven distinct forms-all of which are never observed at any single display cla ified and described as follows (for northern latitudes):-1. An evenly diffused luminosity, extending over the entire northern heavens, offen reaching to the zenith and sometimes beyond, and in azimuth from the western to the eastern horizon, and unaccompanied by any of the other six forms into which the phenomenon may be divided.-2. A luminous arch whose crown is always in the meridian, the two ends resting on the northwest and northeast horizon. Frequently the sky beneath a umes an evenly diffused drapery of intense blackne . That it is not caused by contrast is evident from the fact that no blackne is visible above it. That it is not a cloud is also evident, as stars have been seen (with a telescope) through the vail, though greatly dimmed in brightne .-3. Resembling No. 1, with the difference that there are large patches of luminous clouds, generally white, but sometimes tinted with two colors of the spectrum, red and green. They are seen most frequently in the northwest and northeast, appearing and disappearing without motion of translation.4. Long, narrow, luminous rays or streamers, often reaching from the horizon, or from the arch to the zenith and occasionally beyond, meeting by perspective at the apex like the radii of a circle. They are seldom stationary, some moving to the right and others to the left, and frequently exhibiting pulsating tremors throughout their lengths. Like the luminous clouds (No. 3), the streamers also often emit the rainbow tints. The majestic, soldier-like movement of these long pendant beams of light is one of the most fascinating scenes this strange phenomenon presents to the beholder.-5. "Merry Dancers:" large, white, luminous clouds dancing with fearful rapidity up and down, often moving from the horizon to the zenith in a single second. These corruscations produce a series of celestial pyrotechnics of indescribable sublimity and grandeur.-6. The Corona: a circle or crown of light of some six or eight degrees in diameter, always on the magnetic equator (some few degrees north of the geographic equator) and also on the meridian of the observer. It is toward the corona that the streamers trend and meet, from whatever direction they may appear to come. In a large majority of cases the corona is not formed, the streamers extending no further than the zenith. On rare occasions the streamers have been seen all around the corona, extending to within ten degrees of the southern horizon.-7. Horizontal beam: This is the rarest of all the phenomena into which the auroral displays are divided. Probably not oftener than once in twenty years would it fall to the lot of a person to witne it. It consists of a bright, cigar-shaped beam, from two to three degrees broad, extending generally from the eastern to the western horizon; and, though always at right angles to the magnetic meridian, it obeys no rule as to the distance north of the magnetic equator. It has been simultaneously seen from both continents, frequently deceiving the "very elect" even to announcing it as the tail of an extraordinary comet. It certainly does resemble the tails of the great comets of 1843 and 1861. It appears to be an isolated phenomenon, never occurring coincidentally with the others. That the aurora borealis, considered as a whole, is of electric origin, is evident when it is considered that the corona is always found on the magnetic equator, and the beam at a right angle to the magnetic meridian; and also that, during the displays, magnetic needles and telegraph lines are more or le disturbed, sometimes so intensely as to work the telegraph instruments without any battery whatever. The boreal and austral auroræ must therefore be due to some form of electric energy, but are as yet involved in a halo of mystery beyond the ken of human investigation. The sounds some think they hear during an auroral display are probably entirely due to the imagination. Spectrum analysis reveals the presence of six l'nes and two bands in the light of the aurora borealis, whose positions are as follows (as per Rowland's scale): (1) bright band in the red; (2) brightest line in the citron; (3) very faint line in the citron; (4) fairly bright line in the green; (5) rather bright line in the green; (6) bright line in the green; (7) broad blue band, darker in the middle, extending from wave length 0-4695 to 04630; (8) faint line in the violet. No. 5 is brightest only when No. 1 is visible, but at the same time No. 2 is faintest. See SPECTRUM, SPECTRUM ANALYSIS, ELEC TRICITY. Aurungabad', [The "Place of the Throne "] a large maritime prov. of the Deccan in Hindostan, comprised partly in the British presidency of Bengal, and partly in the Nizam's dominions; principally between 18° and 21° N. Lat., and 73° and 77° E. Lon. Bounded on the N. by the prov. of Gujerat, Candeish, and Berar; E. by Buder; S. by Bejapoor; and on the W. by the Indian ocean. - Surface . Irregular, and mountainous toward the W., where the Ghauts attain a considerable height. That part of A. E. of the Western Ghauts is a table-land at a general elevation of 1,800 ft. above sea-level; it abounds with natural fortre es and strongholds. There are no rivers of any size. Clim . Admirably adapted for the production of European fruits, which come to greater perfection here than in any other part of India. The inhabitants are chiefly Mahrattas, but A. is thinly peopled, and the Mohammedans are to the Hindoos only as 1 to 20.- Chief cities . Bombay, Aurungabad, Poonah, and Sool a poor. Many remarkable antiquities exist in this province, as the temples and caves at Salsette, Elephant a, Ellora, . A. was formerly called Ahmednuggur , and afterwards Dow let a bad , from the cities so named being in turn its capitals, under two dynasties, previously to A. D. 1635; at which period Shah Jehan finally conquered and annexed it to the Mogul empire. A. becoming eventually the favorite residence of Aurungzebe, thus acquired its present appellation. AURUNGABAD, a city of the Deccan, cap. of the above prov., within the dominions of the Nizam, on a tributary of the God a very, 275 m. S. W. of Hyderabad, 176 m. E.N.E. of Bombay, and 140 m. N.E. of Poonah. It is an ancient and imposing city, and contains the royal palace of Aurungzebe, and many other fine architectural remains of his dynasty. A. is now occupied by a British garrison. Pop . estimated at 60,000. Aurungzebe, ( aw - rung - zeeb ',) known as the GREAT MOGUL, or Emperor of Hindostan, B. 22. Oct., 1618. He was the son of Shah Jehan, and properly named Mohammed, but received from his grandfather that of A. ("Ornament of the Throne"), by which he is known to history. After deposing and imprisoning his father, and putting his brothers to death, A. , in 1658, was crowned sole monarch of the great Mogul empire. His long reign was more remarkable for its internal policy than for its outward events. In some respects it may be compared to the reign of Louis XIV. of France. Both reigns were of unusual duration, and of unquestionable brilliancy. A. carried on many wars, conquered Golconda and Fig . 243. TOMBS OF THE KINGS OF GOLCONDA. Beejapoor, and subjugated the Mahrattas. The Mu ulmans of India still regard him as the greatest of their sovereigns. A. died at Ahmednuggur, in the Deccan, 21st Feb., 1709, master of 21 provinces, and of a revenue of about $200,000,000. Au Sa'ble, or Ausa'ble, in Illinois, a township of Grundy co. Au Sable, or A us able, in Michigan, a city of Iosco co. It is situated on Lake Michigan, at the mouth of a river of the same name. Population (1890) 4,328. Au Sable, in New York , a river of E ex co., which enters Lake Cham plain about 15 m. S. of Plattsburg. -A township of Clinton co. Au Sa'ble Forks, in New York , a small post-village in Jay township, E ex co., on Au Sable river, about 128 m. N. of Albany. Auscultate, v. a. [Fr. a us culter; Lat. a us cult are, to listen.] To practise auscultation. by Gratian in 379. His poetical talents were highly esteemed during his life, (as indeed he is among the best writers of that late era;) and the Emperor Theodosius wished to obtain the same return of flattery from him which August us received from Horace and Virgil. But his style is vicious and full of conceits, and his subjects generally too trifling to retain any interest. Aus'pical, a . Pertaining to auspices. (R.) Auspicate, v . a. [Lat. a us pic are - auspex , a bird-seer, and specere, spicere, to view. To give a favorable turn to in commencing; - a sense taken from the Roman praсtice of performing the auspicium , or inspection of birds, before they undertook any important busine . A us pic a tory, a . Of, or having relation to, auspices. Au's pice, n . [Fr. auspice ; Lat. auspicium , from auspez avis , a bird, and specio , to observe. Omens drawn from observing the actions of birds; augury. - See AUGURY. -Favorable appearance; patronage; protection; fortune; used generally in the plural; as, under happy auspices . Auspicial, a . Pertaining to auspices; relating to prognostics. (R.) Auspicious, a. Having or bringing auspices, or omens of succe ; favorable; fortunate; propitious; prosperous; happy; as, an auspicious day. Auspiciously, adv. Happily; prosperously; favorably; propitiously.