Mike Simmons wrote in message ...


Chris,

Is it possible you were observing the effect of improved seeing while
the thin clouds were passing over? In some areas -- like here in
Southern California (I don't know about others) -- the conditions that
spawn the thin clouds also bring better seeing. In our case, it's low
clouds that form due to the proximity of the ocean. It may also be true
that the increase water content stabilizes the air. Could something
like this be responsible for the increased detail you're seeing? FWIW,
I've never noticed a color shift of any kind through thin clouds.

Mike Simmons

It's not quite how I would describe it. The sudden arrival and
removal of detail in Jupiter's belts with each passing cloud was
immediately noticable. Starved as I was by pooor seeing over many
months of staring at Jupiter & Saturn at every opportunity. The fact
that I was seeing detail only in those fleeting moments is both
irritating and frustrating. It's not a form of filtration I can
recommend to other than a complete masochist. It was like trying to
see a detail in the landscape while looking through line-side trees
from a fast moving train. g

Chris.B