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From: pagiven@drutx.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Sunrise Phenomenon
Message-ID: <1345@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Oct-84 16:31:42 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.1345
Posted: Tue Oct 30 16:31:42 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Oct-84 01:30:46 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 26


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Can anyone out there explain the atmospheric  phenomenon  known  as
the  "rosy  fingers  of dawn" in reasonably plain English (that is,
without invoking quantum chromodynamics or other esoteric  theory)?
In  case this beautiful morning sight is known by another name, let
me explain: On a cloudless morning, just before the limb of the sun
breaks the horizon, deep pink shafts of light radiate from the hor-
izon to just beyond directly overhead but not quite to the  western
horizon.   There  appears  to  be four or five very sharply defined
shafts of light, alternating with deep blue, growing with intensity
as  the  horizon  is  neared.   One is reminded of the "rising sun"
Japanese flag symbol.  Interestingly enough, I have never seen this
at sunset.  Can it happen then, too?

I have only seen this about three times in my life.  Having seen it
for  the  third  time  just  yesterday, my curiosity screams for an
answer.

Thanks in advance.

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 Paul Given             {ihnp4, houxe, stcvax!ihnp4}!drutx!pagiven
              AT&T Information Systems Laboratories
 11900 N. Pecos, Rm 1B04, Denver 80234              (303)-538-4058
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