It would not. Light path isn't bend by the atmosphere, but by grabity, and earth gravity i not big enough to bend that path into an orbit. But what you describe is happening around massive object such as black holes. Light passing near horizon can be bent on a orbit which traps the light around for a short priod of time, until the photon hit something and takes another direciton.
Slashdot Mirror
It would not. Light path isn't bend by the atmosphere, but by grabity, and earth gravity i not big enough to bend that path into an orbit. But what you describe is happening around massive object such as black holes. Light passing near horizon can be bent on a orbit which traps the light around for a short priod of time, until the photon hit something and takes another direciton.