A Wonderful phenomenon.
The following extract, descriptive of an atmospheric display witnessed at Omaha City, Nebraska, is taken from a letter addressed to a gentleman of
Philadelphia, from his daughter, who resides in
Omaha;
Last evening (Dec. 28th,) just after tea, on going to the front door, I witnessed the most remarkable as well as the most beautiful lunar exhibition I ever gazed upon.
There before me was the full moon, the centre of a golden cross, as brilliant as herself.
One column extended from the horizon nearly to the zenith, and the other, running horizontally through the moon, was also of immense length.
It continued visible in all its grandeur and beauty for more than an hour.
Everybody in our little city was gazing at the strange sight, and many were filled with fear.
Some thought that the
Union was to be dissolved, and others thought that ‘"
Fort Moultrie had been taken."’ At 9 o'clock it began to fade, but still we could see it distinctly, 9 1-2 o'clock a circle was formed around the moon, making an appearance like a cross inclosed in a circle.
The cross was of luminous bars, and at the ends of the arms the rainbows appeared, not circular, but perpendicular.
The large circle possessed all the colors of the rainbow, and was very brilliant, reflecting two smaller circles, one northwest and the other southwest.
Oh, how we wished for you all. We have watched the papers closely to see whether you were favored in the
East with the same sight.
I hope you were.
The Daily Telegraph, a little paper published at
Omaha, gives, in its issue of Jan. 3d, the following account of the phenomenon above described:
‘
On the night of the 28th of December, was witnessed a most beautiful lunar bow, or rainbow, as it is commonly called, though there was no rain at the time.
It was caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of light upon the sleet-encrusted snow which covered the earth.
The moon, which was full the day previous, rose about 7 o'clock, when the beautiful phenomenon commenced.
At first the bow was distinct at the edge of the horizon, but pointed up. In half an hour it became very plain throughout, as much so as any solar bow we ever saw. It continued so for more than an hour.
All the prismatic tints were very vivid, though the red, violet and green were the brightest.
It gave a pale orange tint to the whole eastern part of the firmament.
The radius of the bow seemed about 30 deg. There was a bright streak of white light, as broad as the moon, extending from the horizon up through the moon perpendicularly, apparently 20 deg. in length.
Another streak of like color and dimensions ran horizontally across through the moon — thus forming a beautiful and perfect cross, which has given rise to various conjectures connected with the millennium, and the
Pope's removal to
America.
At 9 1-2 o'clock a circle was formed, retaining the prismatic colors, and reflecting two secondary circles--one northwest, the other southwest.
From 10 to 12 o'clock its grandeur culminated.
There were six circles--one around the edge of the horizon--one around the moon with a radius of about-10 deg.--the remaining four circles, each the size of the latter, filled the vacancy between the two, occupying the N. E., N. W. and S. W. parts of the compass.
’
