Sundog (Parhelion) Information

For those of you who want more information on sundogs (parhelia, Latin for "beside the sun") check out the Atmospheric Optics website http://www.atoptics.co.uk. Look for the topic "Ice Halos" and also try "Search-Index." The site features many kinds of atmospheric optical phenomena with explanations and wonderful photographs. If you decided to search for sundogs, be sure to shield your eyes from the sun.

As astronomer Jack Horkheimer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Horkheimer:_Star_Gazer and http://www.starhustler.com/) used to say, "Keep looking up!"

Update

(sundog, Dec 17, 2010; as usual, click to enlarge)


Still having computer woes. No relief in sight. Saw two more sundogs this afternoon. Too cool. Took bad photos of them with the cell phone. The weather is much milder here today--anything is better than 12 degrees. Cats, rabbits, and dogs are doing well and trying to find mischief to get into. Finally got new glasses to replace the ones I broke last year. They look just about like the pair before the last ones. Liked the last ones best, but these have magnetic clip-on sunglasses. They are supposed to be the new generation of Transitions lenses, too, but I can't tell any difference. The clip-ons are handy when in the car because the tinted windows inhibit the darkening function of the Transitions lenses. Christmas is rapidly approaching and I'm not ready.

3 in 30

Driving home from Guntersville this afternoon, we were treated to three different sundog sightings in just over thirty minutes. My apologies for the poor photo quality. Colors are washed out because of the brightness of the sun and the camera quality. Although sometimes I get pretty good photos with the cell phone, I didn't today.



No. 1, sighted about 1:50 p.m. when we were atop the hill near River Ridge Road at Gunter's Landing. The little bright spot is the parhelion (sundog). The colors don't show up in the photo. The bright sun to the left washed everything out.





No. 2 spotted about 2:05 p.m. on the highway between Grant and New Hope is a good example of what atmospheric phenomena are not. The bright spot in the center of the pink column is the parhelion; sun to the left out of the frame.The pink column and the tiny white spot above and to the left are photographic. Reflections in window of interior of vehicle are definitely not atmospheric phenomena. This sighting was neat because the entire cloud dissipated as the sundog faded with the movement of the sun.




No. 3 made about 2: 35 p.m. driving east on Weatherly Road. Despite the bright sun, you can see a little color in this photo. The horizontal rainbow line above the sun is photographic.




A shot of the cirrus clouds that often contain the hexagonal plate-shaped ice crystals that make sundogs possible.

Sunday's Snow and Beyond

Snow Saturday night and all day Sunday, into Monday. Not much accumulation, but fun to watch. Here I was driving to Guntersville on Sunday around noon to pick up Robert. The foggy stuff in the distance is the snow really beginning to come down. Not much detail. Never sure how these aim-and-shoot photos will turn out, since I can't look at the view screen and drive at the same time.






Stopped at the Shell Station in New Hope to get some shots of the snow flakes aka giant snow blobs.







On the way back, Robert got this shot of accumulation on a field. The dark spot is standing water. With daily temperatures not getting above 30 and down into the teens at night it has been frozen now since Sunday evening.






Today snow is only left in shady spots and on icy surfaces like this little frozen pond just down from the Gunter's Landing gatehouse.

One of My Favorite Photos

Daughter, Joanna, and big ol' kitty, Pants (Pascal)

(laptop still not fixed)

Diversion

Tired of the tech problems, so here are some old photos that I hope you enjoy.




Matilda shows off the bun nose






Periwinkle shows off his good luck charm





LillieBun in a favorite spot





Pester checking out the truck





Unknown sheep ladies





Football Bun






Twink learning to spin






Kids check out kids at the museum

It's Always Something

Yesterday, cold and rainy, the heating unit died. Called the repair guy. Won't come until the rain stops. Probably today. He called this morning. New unit is in the works, but not until the big boss comes out and looks things over to give the final verdict and estimate. Probably have it in by the end of the week. Gee. Just as we go into a cold spell. Currently 38 degrees outside and 56 inside. Might have to break out a space heater.