(Courtesy of UCLA
Dept of Physics and Astronomy)
Here's the lowdown on
this most intriguing photo. I emailed UCLA about this, and Larry
Webster at Mt. Wilson Observatory answered, "Yes, the towercam usually
uses an automatic exposure system, which on moonless nights, has a maximum
exposure of 12 seconds. Those are probably aircraft anti-collision
lights during that 12-sec. time period . . .in fact, I count 12 dots!
The strobes must flash once per second!"
Click on the photo for
more information about the 150 foot solar tower. -Steve Blodgett
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