>As you can see by looking at the details below, I've been following these >glints to lower and lower altitudes. I would like to question the default >limit for altitude provided by glint prediction programs (IRIDFLAR, Randy >John's program, GSOC, and any others). 1 or 2 degrees is probably >reasonable. Individual observers will want to adjust that upward as >required by local conditions, but bright glints are visible at very low >altitudes. I would believe a fractional altitude, i.e., less than 1 >degree, is possible. In DC, in the summer, the Sun sometimes disappears >at 20 or even 30 degrees altitude. Typical urban or even suburban >environments can make observing at low altitude difficult. We don't want >to frustrate newbies, but observers with good horizons shouldn't be denied >bright glints. > > >Green flash? Green glow? Blue flash? Well, how about a blue-green glow? >I've seen dozens of variations on the green flash and green glow, many at >Sunrise over the land horizon from my 8th-floor apartment. I've seen 8 >green flashes at a single Sunset from the air over a distant cloud >horizon. I've seen green flashes "brighter than flashbulbs going off". >But I haven't had much luck with blue. Sunday morning, I saw the bluest >event I've ever seen. There was just a little orange haze on the Eastern >horizon, brighter above the orient. As the orange brightened, a bright >blue-green glow appeared as not much more than a speck at the lowest, >brightest point of the orange. It brightened rapidly, rapidly yellowed, >and overwhelmed. If I reverse the time arrow for such an event, I can >easily see why it is so difficult to see such events at Sunset. You have >to protect your eyes till the last second or two. Maybe expose only one >eye to the bright Sun. Could someone tell me what this is all about? Jonathan j_wojack@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com