[T. P. Pole]

Looking at that photo, and the reflection over-shooting the tower (as seen on the hills behind), how soon until there is a brush fire started by this?

[Darren McCarty]

Probably this summer.

Idiots.

[SES1066]

Looking at that photo, and the reflection over-shooting the tower (as seen on the hills behind), how soon until there is a brush fire started by this?

IMHO, I don't think that those are reflections from the hills behind, but are instead a distortion event from the heated air at the center point as seen in two dimensions. It probably is like a semi-halo around the focus from the solar orientation.

[null and void]

Looking at that photo, and the reflection over-shooting the tower (as seen on the hills behind), how soon until there is a brush fire started by this?

That's what it looks like, but it's actually the mirrors focused near the collector, in an "off" state, where they can quickly be angled into the collector for the "on" state.

You're seeing the distant hills through a donut of superheated air and dust edge on.

[rellimpank]

--been past it several times since inception -

-I think that apparent reflection is a photo illusion---the "glow" when you drive by it appears to be right around the tower--it's a strange phenomenon to look at from the highway and doesn't appear to be on the hillside---

[ClaytonP]

Looking at that photo, and the reflection over-shooting the tower (as seen on the hills behind), how soon until there is a brush fire started by this?

I don't think that reflection is a over-shoot that misses the tower, its more likely dust caught in the "beam" that is reflecting light.