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Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 08:44
by Prop Jockey
I see the cottages in the link, but I don't see the pub ? :lazy:
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 08:56
by Techy111
And it starts....... :doho:
Tony
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 09:18
by cstorey
It is very unlikely to be an astronomical phenomenon . The only one I can think of is a very large meteorite , but they are rare . It sounds to me to be more probable that you probably had heavy cloud and a full moon, and that just for a moment the clouds parted. It is quite amazing how with a high full moon the effect is like a kind of blue daylight, and scudding cloud can certainly produce the type of effect you describe
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 09:25
by Prop Jockey
Ok, ok, how about Northern Lights then ?
Cheers
Rich
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 10:18
by speedbird591
Hmmm. Interesting. We thought we'd completely erased your memory of that 'event', Jim. It appears that our agents were a little lax and that there's a wee bit more to be - er - removed. Expect a visit soon
Not that you'll remember it ...
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 10:28
by emfrat
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 10:38
by simondix
On a more serious note I know what you are talking about as I have had the same sort of experience. I just thought it was something passing in front of the sun of a more earthly nature.
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 11:07
by forthbridge
Seriously guys, I can't (maybe googling wrong) find any sort of explanation - now, maybe time has corrupted my memory - but whatever caused it lasted no more than 3-4 seconds tops - propable less. It may be that as it got darker again, my eyes readjusted and it seemed darker more suddenly as I'd just been 'dazzled' - dunno. I've always put it down to an 'eclipse' but I reckon thats not the correct term, and there must be some reference to this event somewhere. It was a dry night, dark, I suppose it could have been lightning, but there was no thunder or wind, or sound etc, and from where I was to the house took about 30 seconds (if that) to walk - and I was already half-way to the house. It was a warmer (I think) light than I would expect from Lightning - not so much a flash (although it lasted about as long) - although with it having been dark/light/dark I can't say I had time to say with certainty it was or wasn't lightning. It deffo wasn't the moon - I'm almost certain of that, although I can't say if it was a cloudy or clear night - and I'm fairly sure the illumniation originated to the south of where I was (Lit up everything in my field of vision).....
Now, I've only really seen one decent electric storm in the last 20-odd years, but lightning was more commone in the borders, I did see some spectacular stuff, and I remember once a bolt (more like two massive sparks) actually hit the centre-spot of the footie-pitch painted lines in the playground of the School one day (when all us kids were out, watching the sky and the teachers didn't seem concerned we would be zapped)...... so given all that, I *suppose* lightning is a possibility........... but, in all seriousness, this spring back into my mind because I read something about an eclipse last night, and had a wee look around, and couldn't find any reference to anything - but - as this is an aviation (thus 'sky') 'buffs' forum, surely someone among us has some suggestions!!!!!!!!!
I will admit to being 'quickly' stunned by two events - one when the streetlights were off in Livingston one evening in the early 90s I was walking east, and was suddenly illuminated from above and thought 'WTxx!!???' - I then realised it was a plane just swtiching on it's landing lights before they swung up for landing at EGPH - I had never noticed this before as the effect is muted by the streetlights, and gave no notice to the sound of the plane as a: I probably had earphones on and b: they were overhead all the time so were not out of the ordinary.... and the second was when I was standing chatting to a pal outside my house, and this red dot started darting around my feet - I *genuinely* thought 'WTxx..' - as there was no spread of the beam - anyway - i looked up, then around and realised it was some clown with some sort of laser pointer who was shining it out their flat window from across the road......
Now, apart from having seen a weird A/C that I couldn't ID, (at least I know it was some sort of aircraft) - I've never really seen anything that's perpexed me - or rather I haven't been able to say 'that's bacause of...' - except this particular 'celestial event'........ so I'm really hoping someone can suggest something.... ( lightning could be the most logical answer??)
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 21:07
by RAF_Quantum
Hi,
When you say it was dark/night-time, I take it that it is maybe within a couple of hours of sunset?
Regards
John
Re: Eclipse?
Posted: 08 Feb 2009, 21:22
by Nigel H-J
Oh dear, it worries me when someone has to try to justify what they saw even though they may not have seen what they think they saw but probably think they saw something that nobody else saw!!
Nigel.