Posted on 08/18/2011 2:42:56 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: What is that on the horizon? No, it's not an alien starship battling distant Earthlings, but rather a sun pillar. When driving across Ontario, Canada in early June, the photographer was surprised to encounter such an "eerie and beautiful" vista, and immediately took pictures. When atmospheric air is cold, ice sometimes forms flat six-sided crystals as it falls from high-level clouds. Air resistance then causes these crystals to lie nearly flat much of the time as they flutter to the ground. If viewed toward a rising or setting Sun, these flat crystals will reflect sunlight and create an unusual column of light -- a sun pillar as seen above. Such columns of light are not uncommon to see, and a retrospective of past APODs that have featured picturesque sun pillars can be found here.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Image Credit & Copyright: Rick Stankiewicz (Peterborough Astronomical Association)]
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Looks like something stirring in the land of Mordor.
I was going to say “Looks like something out of a science fictioin movie,” but you said it better.
As usual, a big ‘Thank You’ to Sunken Civ.
Just came inside. The fog blew out just long enough to get a glimpse of M31 and a few moons of Jupiter with my binocs!
Lovely.
The other day, we actually saw rays emerging from the setting sun, like those often portrayed in cartoons. That was pretty amazing.
I have never in my life seen a sun pillar. It is truly beautiful! You educate me every day, SunkenCiv!!
Is that a red hammer and sickle projected into the clouds?
Reminds me of the Book of Exodus.
You poeple just don’t know what a Chinese ICMB launch looks like. Sheesh!
That’s lovely, Civ! Did you check out the collection of sun pillar photos as well? The triple sunrise is spectacular.
This photo is darker and more Mordor looking, but most of the other ones are bright and pretty.
Thanks for everything.
Why don’t I ever get to take pictures like that?! Awesome.
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