Reflection of Light

Abstract

As showing how far under favourable conditions the reflection of light from a cloudy sky is visible, I may perhaps be allowed to mention that last night at nine o'clock the reflection of the London lights was remarkably strong. The sky was uniformly covered by a dense canopy of moderately high cloud, and the air very moist (humidity 95). Under such circumstances I have frequently seen at the same time the reflection of the London Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, and Tunbridge Wells lights, aut last night this reflection in the case of London was peculiarly strong. In former years the light was of a reddish yellow, as is still the case with the lights of the other places named. But in the case of London, and less but perceptibly so in that of Brighton, the light has become of a more silvery hue, due doubtless to the extensive use of the electric light. The distance between this place (lat. 51°, long. 0) and London is about thirty-five miles in a direct line, and there is no place of any size between these points, so there can be no mistake about it; and that the reflection of light at such a distance should be visible seems worthy of notice. It would be interesting to know how far, under favourable atmospheric conditions, the reflection of the London lights can really be seen.