We had 'light pillars' last night all around the Twin Cities.
VERY-VERY-COOL!!

<http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_337220001/view?slide=1>

<http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_337220001/view?slide=5>

If you've never seen them, they are like a ground based localized version of
the Northern Lights - only they're all around you.

It looks like 1,000 search lights all pointing straight up to the heavens.
The pictures on the TV website DO NOT do the view justice. And colors too.
Simply beautiful.

Why, on nights like these, the ground source light doesn't diffuse more as
it goes up is beyond me - as you can see in the links, pillars of light are
formed ...somehow??


Montblack
In my lifetime I've seen light pillars fill the night sky - twice now.

It's the Bat-Light, Boywonder!

Too cool! Thanks,
Jim

"Montblack" > wrote in message
...
> We had 'light pillars' last night all around the Twin Cities.
> VERY-VERY-COOL!!
>
> <http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_337220001/view?slide=1>
>
> <http://wcco.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_337220001/view?slide=5>
>
> If you've never seen them, they are like a ground based localized version
of
> the Northern Lights - only they're all around you.
>
> It looks like 1,000 search lights all pointing straight up to the heavens.
> The pictures on the TV website DO NOT do the view justice. And colors too.
> Simply beautiful.
>
> Why, on nights like these, the ground source light doesn't diffuse more as
> it goes up is beyond me - as you can see in the links, pillars of light
are
> formed ...somehow??
>
>
> Montblack
> In my lifetime I've seen light pillars fill the night sky - twice now.
>

> It's the Bat-Light, Boywonder!

God, it's scary to know that someone else is as warped as me. That was *my*
first thought, too!

So what, exactly, causes this phenomenon?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:EgNkf.380753$084.324817@attbi_s22...
>> It's the Bat-Light, Boywonder!
>
> God, it's scary to know that someone else is as warped as me. That was
> *my* first thought, too!
>
> So what, exactly, causes this phenomenon?

From http://wcco.com/weathernews/local_story_337230308.html:
Light pillars are formed when ice crystals in the sky refract the light from
ground light sources. When enough of the crystals align, pillars of light
appear in the sky.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020902.html

-Greg B.

> > It's the Bat-Light, Boywonder!
>
> God, it's scary to know that someone else is as warped as me. That was
*my*
> first thought, too!
>
> So what, exactly, causes this phenomenon?

A city council (or business) with some money to spend, renting spotlights?
--
Jim in NC

>> So what, exactly, causes this phenomenon?

("Morgans" wrote)
> A city council (or business) with some money to spend, renting spotlights?


I've seen the local skating rink light pillars as a kid - I remember those.
But to have the whole night sky filled with what look the Northern Lights,
along with rows upon rows of colorful light pillars, in any direction you
look - that's pretty rare ...for me anyway.

<http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020902.html>

<http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/lpil.htm>

<http://www.photon-echoes.com/pillars.htm>


Montblack
Who, last night, forgot he now owns a digital camera. Doh!

"Montblack" > wrote

> I've seen the local skating rink light pillars as a kid - I remember
those.
> But to have the whole night sky filled with what look the Northern Lights,
> along with rows upon rows of colorful light pillars, in any direction you
> look - that's pretty rare ...for me anyway.

Cool! I had never heard of this type of phenomena before. I'm guessing
that it takes pretty cold, and relatively rare conditions.

In Ohio, (where I grew up) when it was snowing, the ceilings were usually
low, and the temps were usually not far below freezing. Not the right
conditions, I suppose.
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Montblack" > wrote
>
> > I've seen the local skating rink light pillars as a kid - I remember
> those.
> > But to have the whole night sky filled with what look the Northern
Lights,
> > along with rows upon rows of colorful light pillars, in any direction
you
> > look - that's pretty rare ...for me anyway.
>
> Cool! I had never heard of this type of phenomena before. I'm guessing
> that it takes pretty cold, and relatively rare conditions.
>
> In Ohio, (where I grew up) when it was snowing, the ceilings were usually
> low, and the temps were usually not far below freezing.

Ice crystals and snow are totally different. In Northern IL today we had
clear blue skies with ice crystals falling. You don't see snow in those
conditions. You typically see ice crystals when it is very clear and very
cold.

>Not the right
> conditions, I suppose.
> --
> Jim in NC
>

Morgans wrote:
>>> It's the Bat-Light, Boywonder!
>> God, it's scary to know that someone else is as warped as me. That was
> *my*
>> first thought, too!
>>
>> So what, exactly, causes this phenomenon?
>
> A city council (or business) with some money to spend, renting spotlights?

Tron (1982)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0084827

>>We had 'light pillars' last night all around the Twin Cities.
VERY-VERY-COOL!!

Noticed them Saturday night, also coming from cars obscured by trees
and a curve in the highway. This was between Crosby and Brainerd
(Minnesota) - there was just a hint of snow in the air. Perhaps the
light is reflected by the small, shiny snow flakes, moving slowly in
the air. If I recall, the winds were calm and it was in or near
single-digit temps. Think of tiny mirrors.

I concur, very cool. Didn't see much in town, though. Could have just
been the angle and background.

Randy

Morgans wrote:

>> Tron (1982)
>> http://imdb.com/title/tt0084827
>
> OK, I'll bite. What is the connection of the light pillars to Tron?

Teleportation/communication links, ie. I/O Towers. They looked like
"light pillars"...

Gateways to the users:
http://www.tron-sector.com/gallery/show.aspx?id=599
http://www.tron-sector.com/gallery/show.aspx?id=382

MCP for example:
http://www.tron-sector.com/gallery/show.aspx?id=1192

A sequel is in the works and the game Tron 2.0:
http://www.tron-sector.com/gallery/show.aspx?id=2161
http://www.tron-sector.com/gallery/show.aspx?id=85

"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote

> Tron (1982)
> http://imdb.com/title/tt0084827

OK, I'll bite. What is the connection of the light pillars to Tron?
--
Jim in NC

Brainerd? Isn't that near Lake Woebegone?

Randy Aldous wrote:
>>>We had 'light pillars' last night all around the Twin Cities.
>
> VERY-VERY-COOL!!
>
> Noticed them Saturday night, also coming from cars obscured by trees
> and a curve in the highway. This was between Crosby and Brainerd
> (Minnesota) - there was just a hint of snow in the air. Perhaps the
> light is reflected by the small, shiny snow flakes, moving slowly in
> the air. If I recall, the winds were calm and it was in or near
> single-digit temps. Think of tiny mirrors.
>
> I concur, very cool. Didn't see much in town, though. Could have just
> been the angle and background.
>
> Randy
>


--
J Kimmel

www.metalinnovations.com

"Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum." - When you have
their full attention in your grip, their hearts and minds will follow.

("JKimmel" wrote)
> Brainerd? Isn't that near Lake Woebegone?


Brainerd is a little north of Lake Wobegon...
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0140131612/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9504985-9341603#reader-link>

....which is just east of Staggerford.
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0345333756/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9504985-9341603#reader-link>

Both books are fun. Staggerford series is very good.


Montblack

Montblack wrote:
> ("JKimmel" wrote)
>> Brainerd? Isn't that near Lake Woebegone?
>
>
> Brainerd is a little north of Lake Wobegon...
> <http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0140131612/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9504985-9341603#reader-link>
>
>
> ...which is just east of Staggerford.
> <http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0345333756/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-9504985-9341603#reader-link>
>
>
> Both books are fun. Staggerford series is very good.

Fargo (1996)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0116282

Made mention of Brainerd...

In article om>,
"Randy Aldous" > wrote:

> >>We had 'light pillars' last night all around the Twin Cities.
> VERY-VERY-COOL!!
>
> Noticed them Saturday night, also coming from cars obscured by trees
> and a curve in the highway. This was between Crosby and Brainerd
> (Minnesota) - there was just a hint of snow in the air. Perhaps the
> light is reflected by the small, shiny snow flakes, moving slowly in
> the air. If I recall, the winds were calm and it was in or near
> single-digit temps. Think of tiny mirrors.
>
> I concur, very cool. Didn't see much in town, though. Could have just
> been the angle and background.

They were very apparent from Fridley on into North Minneapolis.
I noticed that even lights that I couldn't see directly would
do it, but only the white lights (for instance ones in the
railroad yards). Sodium lights didn't seem to do it.

I'm glad someone posted about it--I was wondering what caused
it too. It was around 10 degrees or so--not what I'd think of
as "really cold"--so there must be something more to it than
just temps and a light snow.

Mike Beede

>Fargo (1996)
>http://imdb.com/title/tt0116282

>Made mention of Brainerd...

Was actually set in Brainerd. They filmed a big police raid scene just
down the block from my house. Brainerd PD was even part of it.
Unfortunatly, we had a winter with very little snow and they had to
relocate to near Fargo, if memory serves. The story was still set here
though.

Funny thing, one of the primary characters, the Sheriff, was a woman
and was pregant in the story. The real sheriff at the time, Frank Ball,
had a hard time convincing some media folks from out of town, who would
call him, that he was the sheriff and no, he wasn't pregnant.

Pretty good flick. Although, we all don't talk like that (well, ok,
maybe just a little...sometimes)

Randy

Yah sure.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Randy Aldous" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> >Fargo (1996)
>>http://imdb.com/title/tt0116282
> Pretty good flick. Although, we all don't talk like that (well, ok,
> maybe just a little...sometimes)
>