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The moiré effect lights that guide ships home

Tom Scott · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Ships, submarines & maritimeEveryday physics & science demos

What it is

Tom Scott investigates moire-effect beacons, called Inogon leading marks, a Swedish invention from the 1980s that shows different patterns depending on the viewer's position. He visits one used to mark an undersea cable and tracks down its history.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Linked as the accessible explanation of how moire navigation lights work.

  • 1 people recommended it
  • 1 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2024, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “the one that Tom Scott visits here”

    Tom Scott visits moire navigation beacon

    wgrover, 2024-02 · Recommendation · in “Light characteristic”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: moire effect, inogon, navigation lights, maritime, tom scott

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