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Letter to Editor
November 20, 1816
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A correspondent describes a remarkable compound halo observed in Knoxville, Tennessee, about ten years before October 1816, consisting of five heterocentric circles with the sun at various positions, displaying rainbow-like colors and a mock sun.
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FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
Messrs. Gales & Seaton,
Not long since there was some notice in your paper of a compound halo. It induces me to mention to you a delightful one which I saw about ten years ago at Knoxville.
It consisted of five heterocentric circles. The first, which was of the ordinary size, with the sun in its centre, vied in colouring with the brightest rainbow. The second, several times larger, of a milky complexion, had the sun in the lowest part of its periphery, and the centre quite above the other, in a direction towards the zenith, or at it. There was, next, a pair of still greater dimensions, one extending easterly, and the other westerly, lapping so far as just to encompass the first in each, their upper intersection being at a point in the periphery of the second, which would terminate a diameter drawn from the sun. This spot resembled a mock sun; excepting which, these circles were of a light ash or fog colour, without iridescence. The fifth was not complete. But the broken arches that appeared, exhibiting vividly the prismatic colours, indicated a centre far below the sun, and a circumference which would dip under the horizon, and extend upwards so as to include, not only the sun, but all its brilliant accompaniments.
The phenomenon continued, exclusive of an intermission about noon, several hours.
Knoxville, (Tenn.) Oct. 30, 1816.
Messrs. Gales & Seaton,
Not long since there was some notice in your paper of a compound halo. It induces me to mention to you a delightful one which I saw about ten years ago at Knoxville.
It consisted of five heterocentric circles. The first, which was of the ordinary size, with the sun in its centre, vied in colouring with the brightest rainbow. The second, several times larger, of a milky complexion, had the sun in the lowest part of its periphery, and the centre quite above the other, in a direction towards the zenith, or at it. There was, next, a pair of still greater dimensions, one extending easterly, and the other westerly, lapping so far as just to encompass the first in each, their upper intersection being at a point in the periphery of the second, which would terminate a diameter drawn from the sun. This spot resembled a mock sun; excepting which, these circles were of a light ash or fog colour, without iridescence. The fifth was not complete. But the broken arches that appeared, exhibiting vividly the prismatic colours, indicated a centre far below the sun, and a circumference which would dip under the horizon, and extend upwards so as to include, not only the sun, but all its brilliant accompaniments.
The phenomenon continued, exclusive of an intermission about noon, several hours.
Knoxville, (Tenn.) Oct. 30, 1816.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Historical
What themes does it cover?
Science Nature
What keywords are associated?
Compound Halo
Knoxville
Tennessee
Optical Phenomenon
Prismatic Colors
Mock Sun
Heterocentric Circles
What entities or persons were involved?
Messrs. Gales & Seaton
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Messrs. Gales & Seaton
Main Argument
describes a delightful compound halo observed about ten years ago in knoxville, consisting of five heterocentric circles with vivid prismatic colors and a mock sun.
Notable Details
Five Heterocentric Circles
First Circle Vied In Colouring With The Brightest Rainbow
Second Circle Of Milky Complexion
Pair Of Circles Extending Easterly And Westerly
Mock Sun At Intersection
Fifth Circle With Prismatic Colours