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Account of an Aurora Borealis

Stumbled upon this fine depiction of an Aurora Borealis while browsing some historical bryozoan literature in the Biodiversity Heritage Library:

Account of an Aurora Borealis, observed at Edinburgh 16th January 1827; with some particulars of another, of a preceding year. With a Plate. By D. Blackader, Esq. Communicated by the Author. ABOUT 9 o’clock, P.M., evening fine, brilliant moonlight, a beautiful white, opaque, drapery of cloud, extending from the zenith to within about 15° of the NW. horizon. The wind had for some days been boisterous and variable, and had veered, in the morning, from NW. to NE.; but the air was now calm and serene. In the course of a few minutes the cloudy tissue had entirely disappeared, and a brilliant aurora was exhibited, in rapid change of feature, and distinguished by unusual proximity. Horizontal cloudy vapours, of great tenuity, repeatedly accompanied its more brilliant evolutions, seeming to support its columns; appearing and vanishing with the more vivid coruscations. Thereafter, the aurora became extended, to right and left, forming the segment of a large circle, although not exceeding in altitude more than 15°, and, at either extremity, vanishing, like the higher strata of clouds, in the blue expanse. This arch may be conceived of by means of the sketch, Plate IV. No. 1; whereof the landscape includes an angle of about 90°, having its centre in the magnetic meridian; near to which a principal star is seen, at that hour. The lower edge of this arch was always above that star. Subsequently, a second arch was formed in front thereof.
Blackader, D. (1827). Account of an Aurora Borealis, observed at Edinburgh 16th January 1827; with some particulars of another, of a preceding year. The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Volume 3. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2533756#page/362/mode/1up

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