I was up early this morning, before sunrise, and looking out the window I saw another sun pillar - after just seeing one of these 3 weeks ago up north! This was a sunrise pillar; last week's post was a sunset pillar. I got several shots through two different windows, and then was doubly surprised to see two sun dogs develop!
The sun pillar first appeared just as the sun rose, right beside my Butternut Tree (which you can recognize by the silhouette).
I went to another window and got a picture from a different angle; with a bit of colour enhancement, it shows the sun pillar really well. Shortly I went back to my coffee, thinking the display was over.
A little while later though, with the sun up well above the horizon, I glanced out again and thought I saw a sun dog, off to the right. Two beautiful atmospheric phenomenon in one morning!
There seemed to be blue sky overhead, but the sun dog stayed there for quite awhile.
And then I had to go start the car to warm it up (it was -24°C), and I spotted the second sun dog on the east side of the sun. I found the one window that would let me get a picture of both, and here they are!
All caused by tiny ice crystals floating in the atmosphere, in this heavy very cold Arctic air mass we have sitting overhead! As I read about them I learn there are two different types, caused either by ice crystals high in the atmosphere, like cirrus clouds, or by ice crystals floating in the lower atmosphere, (in very cold weather), as these appear to be. In this case the floating ice crystals that cause the sun dogs are called 'diamond dust'.
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I would be so happy to see them, as you do, beautiful series of photos today, as always.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I'd only learned the term sun dogs last winter.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great capture. I've seen both many times but not together.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! The sky is putting on quite a show!
ReplyDeleteSun pillar and two sun dogs in the same morning. Wow, you're so lucky.
ReplyDeletewww.womenandperspectives.com/2015/02/dreamed-blue-sky.html
Fantastic capture. I'm jealous... but not of those temperatures! :-)
ReplyDeleteGee, it pays to get up early!
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteStunning, really beautiful; isn't nature amazing? But -24?! Ouch.
ReplyDeleteCool captures of the sun pillar and the sundog.. Lovely images. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week-end!
Lea
I've seen sun dogs, but not a sun pillar. I'll be on the lookout now! Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteThis proves that you have to be alert and persistent to get photos that are there for the taking. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos . Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !
ReplyDeleteNice captures. Brrr that's cold!! 1 degree F here this morning.
ReplyDeletei have only read about these!! very cool images, isn't it fun when we discover something new to photograph!?!?
ReplyDeleteThey are so great to see. I don't think I have heard of a sun pillar before now. That top photo reminds me of a European painting.
ReplyDeleteWow, so very cool to capture two sun dogs! One is rare enough!
ReplyDeleteperfect time of the day to take photos - great shots
ReplyDeleteBeautiful captures...I really like the first one a lot. But love the sundogs, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm always telling people that early mornings are wonderful and full of sights that disappear shortly after the sun is up. Glad you were able to see, capture and enjoy these.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I called the sun dogs "sunbows." The double one makes for an exceptional picture.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Sundogs! Hope you are staying warm this weekend:)
ReplyDeleteI should watch tomorrow morning. Supposed to be near record low temps here
ReplyDeleteThe sun dogs and pillars are cool enough...but you have a butternut tree? How cool is that. They are so rare around here. Some of my earliest memories are of gathering butternuts with my mother. We had a couple of trees on our property. I can find a few black walnut trees, but I can never find butternuts.
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