NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Celestial Navigation at NEAF
From: Paul Beckmann
Date: 2015 Apr 20, 05:52 -0700
From: Paul Beckmann
Date: 2015 Apr 20, 05:52 -0700
Despite initial impressions, the proportion of incident light that is specularly reflected by a particular fluid/air interface is far from "obvious" and is only loosely associated with the overall absorption of light ("darkness") of the fluid. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specular_reflection.) For example, highly-polished deep black marble can exhibit a very strong specular reflection. The specular reflection of the celestial body is what we're looking at in an artificial horizon. Used engine oil and molasses *could* do a very fine job of it!
--Paul
