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KB2VXA > THINK 19.02.04 03:50l 40 Lines 1453 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 20437_WT3V
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: VK3ABK > stars & light
Path: ON0AR<F6KMO<F6KFT<DB0GE<DB0GV<DB0SIF<HB9EAS<HB9AK<K1UOL<K1UOL<WA2PNU<
KC2COJ<WT3V
Sent: 040218/2305Z @:WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM #:20437 [Lakehurst] $:20437_WT3V
From: KB2VXA@WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
To : THINK@WW
Hi Dick and readers,
Sorry OM, you are on the right track with "lensing" but way off beam on
the lens.
A street lamp has a lense which directs the light onto the street rather
than allowing it to scatter, thereby providing better illumination with
less power. Stars may appear as multiple images at times due to
atmospheric lensing but it's a rare phenomenon. Usually it's just
twinkling, sometimes accompanied by a slight wiggle due to atmospheric
refraction. That's why observatories are located where they are, areas
with a stable atmosphere, high mountains are where the best ones are.
Gravitational lensing is a wholly different matter caused by an intense
and I mean INTENSE gravitational field bending the light from a distant
star. A star behind a star can sometimes be seen that way provided the
foreground star is exceptionally massive. Black holes have been detected
this way too, stars appearing "out of position" relative to other nearby
stars.
Frankly I never heard of a star breaking into four distinct images, maybe
you can tell us where you came up with that rather odd idea.
73 de Warren, KB2VXA@WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
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Message timed by cesium laser: 23:14 on 2004-Feb-18 GMT
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