NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Arificial Horizons and Tea
From: Bruce Stark
Date: 2003 Jul 10, 21:02 EDT
From: Bruce Stark
Date: 2003 Jul 10, 21:02 EDT
Wolfgang, I think you're on to something with the suggestion that oils in the tea provide surface tension. Still, from comparisons made a little while ago, I've decided there's not a lot of difference between fresh water, boiled water, fresh tea, and stale tea. Fresh tea does seem best. But the REAL value of tea seems to be that it blocks scattered light reflecting from the pan. Put tap water in a black, nonreflecting pan and it works about as well. If anyone wants an unprotected liquid horizon that isn't upset be the least breath of air he'd do well to forget water and tea and go to oil or glycerin. For a regular, protected horizon I'd use tea unless the pan was a dull black. Actually these tests don't mean much. I'm just judging by the image the liquids give of the house across the street. My eyes are such that I gave up night driving several years ago. Some younger person should make the comparisons. Bruce