Search found 4 matches

by parkerjh
Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:54 pm
Forum: The Bridge: Discuss an Astronomy Picture of the Day
Topic: APOD: A Triple Sunrise Over Gdansk Bay (2009 Aug 04)
Replies: 338
Views: 49766

Re: Cause of Triple Sunrise (APOD 2009 August 4)

This is likely the case of nature imitating the unnatural. The images must be the result of one of three scenarios. Internal refelections in the camera optics, multi-surface reflections through a window in front of the camera, or multiple plane reflections off of boundary layers of the atmopshere. C...
by parkerjh
Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:54 pm
Forum: The Bridge: Discuss an Astronomy Picture of the Day
Topic: APOD: Unusual Light Pillars Over Latvia (2009 Jan 12)
Replies: 176
Views: 185673

Re: Unusual Light Pillars Over Latvia (2009 January 12)

As for the noticed (and somewhat measured) cones that are different with color. Scattering and difraction are wavelength (color) dependent processes.
by parkerjh
Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:08 pm
Forum: The Bridge: Discuss an Astronomy Picture of the Day
Topic: APOD: Unusual Light Pillars Over Latvia (2009 Jan 12)
Replies: 176
Views: 185673

Re: Unusual Light Pillars Over Latvia (2009 January 12)

In my previous post I stated that there is likely a column or stack of horizontal lens arrays, each layer having the proper optical prescription to focus forward the light from the previous layer. I agree that the whole verical volumn contributes to the process. The evidence that "focusing"...
by parkerjh
Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:44 pm
Forum: The Bridge: Discuss an Astronomy Picture of the Day
Topic: APOD: Unusual Light Pillars Over Latvia (2009 Jan 12)
Replies: 176
Views: 185673

Re: Unusual Light Pillars Over Latvia (2009 January 12)

While I am not a meteorologist, I do have experience with aerosol scatter. The physics of this phenomenon are quite interesting. It is my conjecture that the the air volume above the lights contains ice crystals with lens like shapes. I further predict that the ice lenses form microlens arrays, or a...