Purkinje Effect

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Red stars are notoriously hard to estimate because of something called the Purkinje effect, which makes red objects seem brighter the longer you stare at them.

This is a quote from Geoff Gaherty from StarryNights forum, the discussion was on estimating magnitudes of red stars.

I noticed this effect dramatically the other week. Thought I'd hit the Nova jackpot for a moment there.


Interesting optical illusion.

[ving (David)]

i have never noticed this... might try it. thanks

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Check 'em out
http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclo...je_effect.html
Or the old faithful Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purkinje_effect
and for the finaly trivia for the day
http://www.mentalfloss.com/archives/...2003-01-05.htm

[avandonk]

Fooling the human senses has been going on for a very long time. Even when there is no conspiracy (CON) by humans out to fool another human.
Here is a very good site showing just how limited our sight sense is with some optical illusions and rational explanations and the physiology behind the illusion leading to some understanding.

http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/index.html
Bert