I'm assuming that sunbeams are present also during the day and are not just crepuscular.

I'm saying that they are always present in our (somewhat "dusty" or "hazy") atmosphere - and I'm not necessarily talking about NYC.

If so there would be some width to these rays, and at the borders of these rays, a difference in energy could be detected, outside the shine of the beam, just like there is a pattern that can be detected in a cloud's shadow on the ground.

I propose to check this out with sensitive optical equipment, beginning with a cloudy day with visible sunbeams aimed at the earth, or during an evening, expecting the sunbeams aimed at us to be undetectable since we are looking towards the sun, but perhaps seen from a satellite we could get a perspective of their actual width and location.

Waiting to be shot down with laser beams for this stupid and misinformed idea.
-- pashute, Jun 11 2023

They do it with mirrors https://en.wikipedi...ki/Laser_guide_star
… and lasers. A Rayleigh beacon relies on the scattering of light by the molecules in the lower atmosphere, the sort of thing you want to measure. [a1, Jun 11 2023]

// check this out with sensitive optical equipment //

Use adaptive optics (they do it with mirrors, link) to detect variations in incoming sunlight, just as astronomer do to *subtract* distortions from incoming starlight.
-- a1, Jun 11 2023


Refraction in the atmosphere means that the sunbeams that light you up were actually not aimed at you.
-- pocmloc, Jun 11 2023


So you want to work the problem in reverse, figuring out where a particular ray would have gone if not for atmospheric distortion?
-- a1, Jun 11 2023


I don't think your idea is stupid or misinformed, but you may want to consider volunteering a bit, or looking into a hobby or two. :?D
-- Ander, Jun 16 2023



random, halfbakery