Narcís Vidal i Campderros i l'aurora boreal observada a Barcelona el 1839

Abstract

The aurora borealis is an intense light in latitudes near the poles. It is known as the aurora australis in the southern hemisphere. An aurora is arch-shaped and undergoes intense colour changes. It is often accompanied by a sound resembling that of silk being rubbed and emits an odour characteristic of ozone. Although an aurora usually occurs in high latitudes, it sometimes takes place in lower latitudes. This paper focuses on the report made by Narcís Vidal i Campderrós (1792-1876), who was commissioned by the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona to observe the aurora borealis on 22 October 1839 in Barcelona. The significance of the report is analyzed and its diffusion in the press is addressed.