> why is it only appearing now? Maybe the clouds have to be just the right height/composition to see the effect. If the clouds were higher it might be too smal

> why is it only appearing now? Maybe the clouds have to be just the right height/composition to see the effect. If the clouds were higher it might be too small and diffuse to see, maybe the lower clouds are partially blocking some other light sources making it much more pronounced or something along those lines. Why did no one break out a high powered laser pointer or range finder?