Glitter Patch

Sky Watch Friday

I would watch the Sky,
If I were you,
Watch the water too,
Especially if it’s the Pacific,
You'll find a view that's terrific.

(Sorry for the bad verse)

Glitter patch
(Click on the photo for a better view)

Looking towards the Sun’s (or Moon’s) reflection across a broad stretch of wind-ruffled water, we see a brilliant elongated path of sparkling light called “glitter”. Glitter is the ensemble of countless sun glints. Each glint is an instantaneous flash of sunlight reflected from a wave with just the right slope and position to send light our way.

As the Sun begins to set, and the altitude is less than the maximum wave tilt, the wave shadows itself and decreases in brightness. When the Sun is almost on the horizon, only the tops of the very highest waves are illuminated and the glitter virtually ceases to exist.

Several factors can distort glitter, such as a gust of wind causing a sideways bulge in the glitter.

While the Sun’s glitter us usually too bright for enjoyment, the Moon’s glitter is just right. Here the glitter is composed of rapidly moving points of light that scurry around the surface in closed loops called moon circles, and are most prominent when the Moon is high and the water only gently rippled. A camera is the best way to capture these as they come and go about as fast as the eye can respond.

To participate in Sky Watch Friday visit Wiggers World.

Troy and Martha