Hi there,
Yes I remember this incident also. I pretty much agree with your feelings about it. I remember being on the flight deck and was amazed that it was so bright that I could have read a book with no problem. As I said the last time I posted response to your post, it was explained to me that the lines we saw surrounding the blast were the magnetic flux lines that surround the earth. I don't know it that is true or not. But it sounds good to me.
I know I was there on the date but don't remember any of it at all. Being a snipe and stayed a lot below the 2 ND deck and on a lot of 6 on 6 off shifts in the #2 Boiler room there was little time to much else. I always loved to go out at night on the starboard sponson off the fan tail and watch the power of the ships screws pushing us along and to see all the stars. Back there no one ever messed with you either.
Steve