It's hard to see, but the faint, vertical smudge just above the trees in the center of the photo is the sundog we spotted yesterday coming home from a late afternoon excursion. The color of the actual parhelion was much more red and a bit prismatic. It is difficult to get good photos of these things with my little camera, but sometimes it surprises me and one turns out pretty good. I thought this one was quite impressive to the naked eye. The sun is the bright spot at the far right margin. You might get a better look if you click on the photo.
I used to get the most beautiful sunrises and sets up in NY Bunnits. We had NO trees in our yard. Here we are surrounded but it's a different life altogether. The woods create a beauty all their own. I've posted many of those moments in my past posts from my NY home. I'm leaving tomorrow to visit up there and will make a visit to the old homestead to see how it's holding out! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteYeah! I love Sundogs! Thanks for sharing. I can see it!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a sundog. What is it?
ReplyDeleteGilding, a sundog (parhelion) is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that occurs when hexagonal, plate-like ice crystals form in high atmosphere cirrus clouds. When sunlight strikes them, the result is a prismatic, rainbow-like streak or patch in the sky on the same side where the sun is. Rainbows, formed when sunlight passes through droplets of water, are found in the opposite direction of the sun. So, if you see a "rainbow" on the same side of the sky as the sun (that is, if you are facing in the direction of the sun), good chance it is a sundog. If you see a portion of a "rainbow" in the sky opposite the sun, it most likely is a rainbow. Hope that made sense for a short answer. A good website with lots of fantastic photos is Atmospheric Optics www.atoptics.co.uk.
ReplyDeleteDaisymum, the photo doesn't do it justice. I made it with my cell phone (guess I should edit that post to say that). It was small, but colorful and I pulled over into an abandoned store parking lot to make the photo. I always think that people passing by think I'm a nut. I've a few other not-so-great photos that I've managed to get over the past few months that I can't seem to get onto the computer. There have also been a few that I just haven't been able to capture. It's fun to look for them.
ReplyDeleteEve, enjoy your trip home. I'll bet you get some great photos.
ReplyDeleteI have some that I made with my cell phone last week when we went up to the family farm in Tennessee. Haven't managed to get them on the computer yet, but hope to get to it this week.
Happy Birthday!!I basically blog from my cell phone now, only problem It has to be a short post then I go into computer and edit it. It is an easy way to upload pic for me. I sent the text to blogger before July 2nd, but by the time it went through it was after midnight. Oh well. Want to come down to Cocoa Beach to my brother's farm and help me shear his llama? I 'll give you half the fiber? poor llama is hot!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sundog! Nothing like seeing the real thing, but I think you did a great job with something so elusive to capture on a camera. Glad you are getting out and enjoying nature this summer! Smile today. :)
ReplyDeletevery pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation Melissa. I have never heard of a sundog either. I will keep my eyes open for one now I know what to look for.
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