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From: gordo <gordo_at_eatel.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] night vision problems
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 15:52:04 -0800
Clyde, one possible reason why the lights you were looking at in the harbor dissappeared on you was simply that you might have ben looking straight at them.    I'm an X-military pilot, and we were required to undergo 2 weeks of training in order to qualify to use the military version of night-vision goggles during flight. We had 4 hours of lecture per day: the anatomy of the human vision system, night-time optical illusions (there are at least 8-9,) and other factors that affect general night vision (general physical health, caffine consumption, etc.)        

The retina (any MD's out there feel free to jump in) has day-time and night-time receptors (rods & cones.) However, there are no night-time receptors at the normal focal point on the retina, hence no night vision. So, to "see" a faint light at a distance (at night) one may simply look just a little off to one side. 

This seems to work (it may take some practice) for me and a lot of other pilots. Try it on a dark night on land. I hope this has been helpfull for you.

Smoke on the water.....
Larry B. <Louisiana>

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