Sunlight sprayed off building top at sunset?

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rakosnicek
Asternaut
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Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:02 pm

Sunlight sprayed off building top at sunset?

Post by rakosnicek » Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:17 pm

Earlier in the year I saw something that I've never seen before with a city skyline:
Image
The full picture is http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~avalon/_MG_0155.jpg

First, let me apologise for the picture not being particularly sharp. The point of the picture, however, is the the "blur" on the building in the middle of the picture. I don't even know if "blur" is the right word to use. On other days, I'm used to seeing it reflect brightly in the sunlight but this ... is different.

The photo is of the City of Melbourne's skyline (Australia), looking north, with a setting sun to the west.

The building with what looks like motion blur for the top part of it has gold plated glass. In this photo, it looks like the gold is being "washed off" and sprayed into the air. It is a newer apartment building with glass windows all over its surface.

This was visible with the naked eye.

At the time, the wind would have been coming from behind me, so the sprayed light is not in the same direction as the prevaling wind (onshore afternoon/evening breeze.)

Thoughts?

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neufer
Vacationer at Tralfamadore
Posts: 18805
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Re: Sunlight sprayed off building top at sunset?

Post by neufer » Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:04 pm

The brightness of the building top would indicate that
it is reflecting the sun almost directly in your direction.

Near forward scattering of aerosols can be quite pronounced:
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Image
Art Neuendorffer

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