@markmccaughrean@mastodon.social
Post #3308841
2026-06-13 11:50 UTC
What’s also interesting from an optics perspective is that given the size & distance of those reflecting windows, they subtend a smaller angle than the Sun itself does.
Because of that, the rays of light are more parallel & cast sharper shadows than direct sunlight does.
You see a similar effect during the partial phase of solar eclipse. As the Moon comes close to covering the Sun, only a sliver of the Sun is illuminating things, & shadows it casts become very noticeably sharper.
Replies (1)
-
@markmccaughrean@mastodon.social 2026-06-13 11:56
Those of you in or on the path of totality during the solar eclipse crossing Europe on 12 August should look out for that. Coming back to our house, when the Sun has almost moved off the reflecting windows across the valley, the shadows also become even sharper. That makes it possible to see waves of in them due to atmospheric turbulence in the valley. Normally such effects are washed out by the relatively large angle subtended by the Sun. I’ll try & catch a movie of that – it’s very cool.