Letters

Cliff Williams

Letter 1: Hi! I have been tracking down examples of atmospheric refraction effects of stars near the horizon, and in my brief web searches I landed on your comments about the Paulding Lights. Its amazing the kinds of superstituous rubbish I have found as 'explanations' for them. My interest for now is to try to pinpoint where the viewing area is on a MapQuest topographical map, and I was wondering if you could help me? The very sketchy directions I have found ( go north 4 miles on US 45 from Watersmeet) takes you to an intersection with an e-w highway. If you go east crossing on the north edge of Bass Lake, you deadend on a n-s 'Old Highway 45'. From there I am not sure what the accounts are talking about. If you could tell me whether this is even the right area, that would be great. Moreover, if you could tell me where the gravel roadway paralleling the power line is, that would be excellent too! Thanks again, Dr. Sten Odenwald www.theastronomycafe.net

Reply 1: From: "Cliff Williams" < > To: astronomycafe@theastronomycafe.net Subject: Paulding Light Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 17:37:26 -0000 Hi Sten, I 'm glad someone is taking a scientific interest in the Paulding Lights. If you plan on doing atmospheric effects of stars near the horizon though, I wouldn't do tests on the light. It's definitely not a star. That's for sure. But, I guess you could still test the effects of turbulence on it. Here are the directions....it is north of Watersmeet on whatever road passes through Paulding and Watersmeet and Bruce Crossing (i do believe it's 45, but I'm not sure). If you're going south, it's on your right, on a dirt road that makes a 45 degree angle to the perpendicular of US45. I don't know what the road's name is, but there's a brown sign before the road that says "Robbin's Pond" among some other words. I doubt the road is on Mapquest too. Once on the road, you just drive straight about 200 yards and you'll come upon a guardrail. Stop there and wait. You should be on an elevation with a slight decline. The power lines are on you right also. The light will appear over the power lines way off in front of you. If you walk down the decline, you'll come to a small stream. Cross that and you'll come to the old railroad tracks (supposed railroad tracks). If the light doesn't show, wait around...it will. It's infrequent both in intensity and time between showings. So, I hope this gives you a fresh start. If you get out there and you an't find, stop by a gas station in Watersmeet or Paulding and ask somebody. They all know where it is. Good luck and let me know what you come up with. I wish I could go out there with my University's spectrometer but I just don't have time this semester. Oh, by the way, the dirt road is plowed for about 100 yards (up until this road that goes off to the left). Just get out of your car and walk the rest of the way. Cliff Williams