I finally got the Book yesterday (I know, slap my wrists for taking so long). I read the section where Phil says we still don't know why the Sun appears yellow.

I looked up at the ceiling to think about it, and I noticed that the light bulb looked yellow. It was giving white light, because it made white things look white. But the bulb itself appeared yellow.

I then looked away, and saw why: there was a beautiful yellow after-image on my retina, that then faded through several different colours before disappearing.

Could this be why the Sun appears yellow? Because white lights produce yellow after-images on our retinas? And, with a light as bright as the Sun, the after-image would form more or less immediately. I've tried to observe what happens when I glance at the Sun (indirectly, of course), and I think it see it as white for an instant before it turns yellow; but, as Phil points out, it's hard to be objective about these things.

Do you think there's anything in this? Or have I had an "Against the mainstream" moment?