Groundspeak Portal

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/

Check out the link to see what Atmospheric Optics are all about before commenting. This is meant to be more then just a few rainbow pics. There is a whole array of different atmosphere optics that are rather pretty and worth some attention. The next time your out hunting for a new plaque or playground, look up. If there's a light rain and the sun's out look for a rainbow, sometimes a double and triple rainbow. Keep an eye out for sun dogs, solar pillars, arcs, redbows, fractured rainbows, glories and more.<br>
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 I've seen a couple different types of these Atmospheric Optics and I see more then most because I look for them. A couple days ago well waymarking some history signs I got a pic of a Redbow, a couple weeks ago I got a pic of a rainbow with 3 purple bands. I don't want to see ho-hum pics. Scenery is a big part of this and I reserve the right to be subjective. All you need is an Atmospheric Optic, Some scenery and the coordinates. This is a waymark that could literally be anywhere. I did a quick write up just to give an idea of what the group is about and will do a much better write up before its submitted. If the link doesn't work then go to spaceweather.com and scroll down to Atmospheric Optics. So who wants to join, enrollment is open? Swizzle

I would like to see the proposal but right now I think this would make a great photo goal waymark but a not so great waymark category.

The reason is that none of the items would be visitable.  To create a waymark for "I saw a sun dog in San Francisco" would be cool for you but that's it, no visit opportunities.

A photo goal however would give the waymarker a way to achieve the goal as a visit and in doing so a collection of Atmospheric Optics would be contained in the photo gallery.

In the visit they would have to identify what type of Optic it was etc.

I may be persuaded but I don't often like locationless waymarks unless they are in the games section.

I'm still new to all of this so I'll look into changing it into a photo goal. My idea was to be able to find various scenic areas that you can see a whole rainbow or get a grander view of a different type of Atmospheric Optic. If you have enough of these areas waymarked close to you then you might actually be able to visit one if you can get there in time after watching a weather report or catch the right sunset. Granted the visits would be very few and not likely to reproduce the same results from the original poster but its highly possible that certain vantage points could give you more consistent  result. A lot of these Atmospheric Optics occur at sunrise and sunset. So visits are highly possible its just a matter of timing when the weathers just right. Swizzle

The web site is very interesting and the thought that a visit could be reproduced at certain locations is intriguing.

I have seen many of these phenomenon and didn't know what they were called. I was especially interested in the Brocken spectere and Glories. Fascinating. If I had ever seen any of these I would have been a beleiver in ghosts for sure.

There would need to be variables to this one. rough estimate of the temperature, time the pic was taken, what type of optic, rough description of weather. I want to see something in both the short and long description. So should I keep the idea as a game or photo goal? Over my parents house I've seen well over a dozen rainbows. So the potential for visits is there. Swizzle

Temporary waymarks do not get my vote - sorry.

Photo Goals asks for the waymarker to interact with the photo so perhaps looking for the pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow would work.  To expand it for other phenomena, you could ask for actions that are appropriate for the image.  Holding up Light Pillars or something.

cldisme:

  Holding up Light Pillars or something.

I have an idea that I have been hoping to get to for a photo goal that includes this idea.

Harness the sun.

Many Examples

(Had to edit to add my examples back in)

I think that the idea Swizzle has would stand alone without the interaction.

Atmospheric Optic Phenomenon after looking at the web pages could stand as a photo goal all by itself.

I have one that could be posted already that I took just a few weeks ago.

To each there own and everyone will have a different angle on this one. I personally loved the idea when I first thought of it and think this one still stands a good chance at being a category. Around here scenic views are limited and most require some hiking. I'm sure this isn't true with the rest of the world so those with more abundant scenic views are less likely to give me a Yea.<br>
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Here's another kicker to add to the list. Most "glories" are seen from airplanes so you could literally waymark a glory from a plane as long as you can get the coordinates. I still haven't seen a full tangent arc and I'd love to see one someday. I just don't have a decent viewing area yet. Someone in a nearby town may actually post one someday and that would give me a better place to view one from.<br>
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I'm already contemplating some Nay Sayers on this one. Even if you are one of those who disagree with this category then hopefully you'll still take some extra time from now on and just stop take a deep breath and check out the heavens. Then when you do see that Tangent Arc you just may wonder why you voted no. Swizzle

Edited to add: That link to hold the sun and moon is awesome. It really does open up some opportunities for creativity. I gotta try this one soon. Swizzle

If the category is well written and visits are addressed it may have a chance but it will be an uphill battle.

I know I have been part of several off the wall category attempts. I really like this idea and think it has a home on waymarking somewhere. If it is a category that would be fine with me as long as it is well written and clearly defined with photo examples etc.

You already mentioned in the title of the post that it would be in the games category. Be sure to emphasis that aspect or people will miss it and it could provide a stumblingblock for some in peer review.

TeamFarkle7 tried the Imitate Escher idea as a category that I assisted with. It failed and came in as a photo goal almost word for word.

Run it up the category flagpole and then if that doesn't work try the photo goal pole.

It may take me some time to get some photo examples. Maybe I should try to find a little pot of gold at the dollar store and try to get a pic with the rainbow in the pot. I think it could be a rather fun category or photo goal either way. Every try eating a rainbow? Maybe a stipulation could be added for plain jane rainbows. There would need to be the creativity shot if the scenery sucks or the atmospheric optic is of poor quality. Just take a couple pics, one of the optic as is and one creative just in case it lacks a little wow you could always add a little humor. One thing for sure is no GPS pics at the end of the rainbow. I'll work on a rough draft tomorrow for a decent write up. Swizzle

Love optics, and some of those sightings have been very memorable.  What about the aurora borealis?  

But, I'm really the side of this NOT being a regular category for the obvious reason that there is really not point in getting geographic coordinates for a fleeting phenomenon.  Waymarking from an airplane?  I don't think so.  Not everything is suitable for a waymarking category just because it is cool.

Sigh - hardly ever have my camera when I see these things . . .

There's 3 reasons I left out the Aurora Borealis. It can be seen all across the sky from Alaska sometimes as far south as Arizona. its a rare occurrence when it dips down that far but its been known to happen and it can be hard to photograph at night without the right camera or camera settings. Also its a geographically limited phenomenon, where as all of the other optics can be seen throughout the world. I guess I would have to leave the waymarking from a plane out due to it not being visitable. Basically what you're waymarking is the vantage point where a really beautiful, natural phenomenon was captured. I'm sure you've see this featured waymark, WMJ0H. That's the type of scenic views that I'm hoping to see. Swizzle

Ok this is my rough draft. Any help with the wording or adding and subtracting from the content will be appreciated. Swizzle

Atmospheric Optics:
Atmospheric Optics are visual wonders, the product of light playing on water droplets, dust and ice crystals. The most common and popular being the rainbow. There are many other natural phenomenons worth looking for as well. Glories, Coronas, Halo's, Sundogs, Solar Pillars, Fogbows and more. Some of these optics are seen on an almost daily basis and some are once in a lifetime. See Atmospheric Optics on (Spaceweather.com link here)

The Goal:
To find scenic areas and vantage points where you have personally seen these phenomenons. Take several photo's of the Atmospheric Optic you're seeing. These can sometimes disappear in seconds and this will give you an opportunity to pick out your best photo(s) for your waymark. This is going to be a subjective category so keep that in mind. This isn't for backyard, everyday rainbows.

If you find a really nice, scenic location and there's a less then spectacular atmospheric optic then try to be creative. Take a little pot of gold with you and try to get a photo of it at the base of a rainbow or solar pillar, try to hold a solar pillar, make yourself or someone with you look like a saint with a halo behind their head. See these examples for more inspiring ideas. (Hold the Sun link here)

Some of these optics can be recreated on a smaller scale in your own backyard. This is not the place for man made  phenomenon. This is for naturally occurring optics, all of which will be in the sky.

Requirements:
1. The viewing area must be public.
2. At least 2 photos are required, one of the Atmospheric Optic on its own and preferably a creativity shot. I do encourage multiple shots. NO GPS IN PHOTO'S!! Waymarks will be declined for GPS Photos. 
3. The view must be a scenic one.
4. Both the short and long description are to be utilized. Tell us what atmospheric optic your seeing, what's the area like, what was the weather like, the time the photo was taken, did you use any special filters to enhance the scenery. Is it an overlook or a park setting, side of the road, long hike, dangerous corner, cliff? Try to add a little content here, some humor will be welcome as well.
5. The pictures must be your own.
6. Titles should describe the phenomenon and city/town and state. Ex: Corona - Anytown, NY
7. Most of all have fun and keep your eyes in the skies.

I would really like to see a draft for Photo Goals instead.

Does anyone else think this would fit better in photo goals? I'd like to see it as a category myself but I still want to see it fit in somewhere's. Would it be possible to break this up into the 2. One for a category and one as a photo goal where you try to catch a rainbow in a pot of gold, hold a solar pillar and hold the sun? Swizzle

I am doing a hold the sun or moon photo goal. I've had it on the burner for a while.

I just don't have my own photos yet. If you beat me to it that would be OK and I would happily log a visit.

I  think an Atmospheric Optics Photo Goal would be great but without the ALR (additional logging requirements). Just to capture the Optic Phenomenon should be the focus for a goal in something like this. This way even airplane photo captures would have a home.

You can try the category route if you wish but fear you will have a rough ride of it based on passed experience.

The pot of gold and rainbow idea could be a separate photo goal all by itself.

Maybe I will put it in Photo goals then. I gotta go hunt down my own pics as well. I'm not gonna steal your thunder. I like the hold the sun and moon idea. I may have to visit it once in a while. Swizzle

Commenting on the rough draft:

The plural of something does not have an apostrophe.
So the plural of "photo" is "photos" (or photographs or pictures :) )

I knew I should have just used "pics". Swizzle

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93092?fp=1

This one is absolutely awesome. This is what I mean by atmospheric optics sometimes being once in a life time. This halo is one of the most amazing natural phenomenons I've even seen. Just copy and paste the link. Swizzle

That is cool.

Here is the link for those who are to busy to copy & paste.

I got my photo goal up and running for Harness the Sun or Moon. Your thread gave me the kick I needed.

It is harder than I thought to get a good photo of the sun or moon in connection with a person.

That's pretty neat. I'm gonna try to come up with something really creative. I'm not sure what yet. That necklace one was really cool. The other one where it looks like you're trying to push the sun down almost looked like you were trying to make a dinosaur out of your hand and make it eat the sun. Definitely got some neat ideas. I'm still waiting to catch a good optic to write mine up. Another idea I had for a photo goal was to catch a waterfall in a cup. Swizzle

Thanks, I am looking forward to your visit log.

Actually the guy in the photo is a buddy of mine that I enlisted to help out. One of the hands photos is one of his kids trying to do a heart.My favorite of the group is the one where he is pushing down the sun but I saw a finger on fire obliterating  the area beneath. A nuclear forefinger of sorts. 

I have a few optics already to go for your Atmospheric Optics.

A full eclipse of the moon next to a lighted flag and maybe a few others. I haven't been able to dig them out yet.

Since I started this thread I haven't seen anything. With winter coming the solar pillars will be here soon. All I need is one good pic and then I can start my solar goal. I'm thinking I should require to pics. One of the optic as is and one with a creativity aspect. I have a keychain lantern and earlier I was tryng to make it look like the sun was inside it. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good pic because I was being blinded by the very thing I'm trying to take a pic of. I'll come up with something soon. Swizzle

swizzle:

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93092?fp=1

The video has been removed due to Terms of Use violation.

I missed it. Sounds COOL.