Seeing stars in daylight

[naomi24]

Someone on the radio today said that if you’re at the bottom of a well in daylight and look up, you can see the stars. He didn’t know how it works – but he said it does. So does it – and if so how? And before anyone says it, I presume it’s a dry well. ;o)

[Duncer]

We're waiting for you to take that leap of faith..........

[LazyGun]

You may find this article of interest, Naomi;

http://www.how-come.n...the-depths-of-a-well/

Short answer is that being down a well doesn't help to see a star, except in the trivial sense that the area of sky you are able to look at is dramatically reduced, and you might therefore catch sight of a bright first order star....

[Duncer]

Well, well, well.

[naomi24]

Thanks LG.

Duncer, what are you? Repeat after Naomi ...... 'incorrigible'. ;o)

[Duncer]

Yes mistress, I am incorrigible.

[woofgang]

It is possible to see venus and jupiter in the day time, although these are planets and not stars
http://earthsky.org/s...ee-in-the-daytime-sky

[Duncer]

Naomi, join me down this well and we'll both see stars.

I know, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible, I am incorrigible.......

[seadogg]

Was researching an old lead mine in Swaledale when my pal dropped his rock hammer onto my helmet. Saw lots of stars. Never seen any real ones looking up a shaft in daytime though.

[Duncer]

Was researching an old lead mine in Swaledale when my pal dropped his rock hammer onto my helmet. Saw lots of stars. Never seen any real ones looking up a shaft in daytime though.

I've never had a hammer dropped onto my helmet; it must be excruciating.......

[LazyGun]

@Methyl

And why do you think this might happen? How does being down a well in daylight help you see stars? What mechanism is aiding you to see stars in daylight?

What does it have to do with the aztecs, or the builders of stonehenge? Any links?

Fact is, being down a well will not aid you in seeing stars during daylight hours, except in the trivial sense that it focuses your attention on one small part of the sky itself.

[ABerrant]

"From the bottom of a reasonably-wide well which points skywards..."

If a well was pointing groundwards wouldn't all the water run out? ;-)

[Old_Geezer]

I thought this was well known to be a myth.

It just sounds plausible because you have made your surroundings dark, but the litlle bit of sky you still see is as bright as it ever was.

[pdq1]

We do a similar type of thing every day without realising. In bright sunshine you put the palm of your hand over your forehead to see more clearly in front.