Comments on: Night Into Day http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:15:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: MC http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-910794 MC Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:47:30 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-910794 In the 1950s there were several schemes for "eternal daylight" using light reflected from large satellites or other sources, and they were vigorously opposed for several reasons: (1) Losing sight of the night sky might mean the end of astronomical science in the United States, not to mention loss of the pleasure of seeing the stars. (2) Biological/ecological harm. You think people have insomnia now? And what about the birds and flowers? (3) Loss of the ability to see approaching aircraft. An enemy attacker's dream... In the 1950s there were several schemes for “eternal daylight” using light reflected from large satellites or other sources, and they were vigorously opposed for several reasons:

(1) Losing sight of the night sky might mean the end of astronomical science in the United States, not to mention loss of the pleasure of seeing the stars.

(2) Biological/ecological harm. You think people have insomnia now? And what about the birds and flowers?

(3) Loss of the ability to see approaching aircraft. An enemy attacker’s dream…

]]> By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-909682 Stannous Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:13:19 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-909682 It sounds like he's trying to create artificial aurorae. Though bright they don't give much 'daylight' as described here. It sounds like he’s trying to create artificial aurorae. Though bright they don’t give much ‘daylight’ as described here.

]]> By: Snud http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-909069 Snud Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:53:17 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-909069 "Power ray" must be one of those French scientifical terms they use to confound and confuse us mere mortals. “Power ray” must be one of those French scientifical terms they use to confound and confuse us mere mortals.

]]> By: Richard C http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-908563 Richard C Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:51:34 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-908563 OK, let's suspend disbelief long enough to believe it's possible to make the upper atmosphere light up like they say. It's still not going to look at all like that artist's conception, which shows a spotlight beamed onto the ground. There won't be a stark line between dark and light on the ground, unless you put a focusing lens/mirror and shade up in the upper atmosphere, too. The light source would presumably emit light more-or-less equally in all directions. If you provide good light to the 1.5 mile circle on the ground, you'll also have to spill a lot of light onto the surrounding tens of miles. That has some pretty enormous implications on the power required to get the desired intensity. No more stargazing from NYC (not that skyglow allows much stargazing from metropolitan areas today, anyway). OK, let’s suspend disbelief long enough to believe it’s possible to make the upper atmosphere light up like they say. It’s still not going to look at all like that artist’s conception, which shows a spotlight beamed onto the ground. There won’t be a stark line between dark and light on the ground, unless you put a focusing lens/mirror and shade up in the upper atmosphere, too.

The light source would presumably emit light more-or-less equally in all directions. If you provide good light to the 1.5 mile circle on the ground, you’ll also have to spill a lot of light onto the surrounding tens of miles.

That has some pretty enormous implications on the power required to get the desired intensity.

No more stargazing from NYC (not that skyglow allows much stargazing from metropolitan areas today, anyway).

]]> By: glindsey http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-907817 glindsey Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:30:00 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-907817 Ah yes, a "power ray". You know, just like the superheroes can make! Ah yes, a “power ray”. You know, just like the superheroes can make!

]]> By: Andy S. http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-907773 Andy S. Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:16:47 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-907773 I guess it didn't work? And what's a "power ray", anyway? If you could safely beam power from place to place wirelessly, wouldn't power cables be a thing of the past? I guess it didn’t work?

And what’s a “power ray”, anyway? If you could safely beam power from place to place wirelessly, wouldn’t power cables be a thing of the past?

]]> By: fluffy http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/comment-page-1/#comment-907749 fluffy Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:06:12 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/13/night-into-day/#comment-907749 Dr. Heil? More like Dr. Hell. Which is how it'd feel to be in eternal sunshine. Also, what's non-artificial about that? Dr. Heil? More like Dr. Hell. Which is how it’d feel to be in eternal sunshine.

Also, what’s non-artificial about that?

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