[ajuc]

> lighting that tiny a stream of gasoline isn't going to illuminate the sky anywhere as bright as a lightning bolt.

Gasoline will burn for much longer so the energy will be released slower, so the peak will be much lower. And we perceive the peak light not the total amount of energy (see 1000 lumen stroboscope going 1 ms on - 999 ms off vs 1 lumen light turned on constantly).

Also gasoline will release more radiation in infrared part of the spectrum.