Aurora tube on circular base — Teylers Museum

Aurora tube on circular base

The thin, straight tube of this instrument is connected to the spiral tube winding around it. Originally, the two tubes were as good as vacuum, now the top of both is broken. An electric discharge in these tubes produced a light phenomenon that looked like the Northern Lights, the aurora borealis. The light phenomenon that appeared in case of an electric discharge in a rarefied gas, was observed by Jean Picard at the end of the seventeenth century. Because of the resemblance to the Northern Lights, many scientists looked to electricity for an explanation of this phenomenon. The first director of Teylers Museum, Martinus van Marum, investigated these light phenomena too, and he became convinced that the Northern Lights were caused by an electric discharge in vacuum.

Administration name

Fysisch Kabinet

Title

Aurora tube on circular base

Translated title

Aurora tube on circular base

Object number

FK 0531

Reproduction reference

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