Astronomy Picture of the Day 9-02-02

NASA ^ | 9-02-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 September 2

Colorful Light Pillars
Credit & Copyright: Walter Tape (Alaska Fairbanks), Figure 8-1, Atmospheric Halos

Explanation: How can an aurora appear so near the ground? Pictured above are not aurora but nearby light pillars, a local phenomenon that can appear as a distant one. In most places on Earth, a lucky viewer can see a Sun-pillar, a column of light appearing to extend up from the Sun caused by flat fluttering ice-crystals reflecting sunlight from the upper atmosphere. Usually these ice crystals evaporate before reaching the ground. During freezing temperatures, however, flat fluttering ice crystals may form near the ground in a form of light snow, sometimes known as a crystal fog. These ice crystals may then reflect ground lights in columns not unlike a Sun-pillar. In the above picture, the colorful lights causing the light pillars surround a ice-skating rink in Fairbanks, Alaska.

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Fun Fact:

The appearance of various effects such as sun pillars, light pillars, moon halos, and sundogs depend on ice crystal shape and orientation, plus the light source's elevation above the horizon. Your latitude can also be a factor.

Get on the list!

[petuniasevan]

[RightWhale]

Unfortunately, these light pillars also mean that the sky is full of ice. This means in turn that stars will twinkle severely like looking through prisms. In short, poor astronomy conditions all winter long in Fairbanks.

[petuniasevan]

I had never seen this particular phenomenon before I moved to Wisconsin. Saw it in Stevens Point in early February 1996.

It's a beautiful sight, but it was a record -32 degrees that night. BRRRR!!!

[kayak]

Living in the South, I had never even heard of this phenomenon. Absolutely beautiful!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks !

[RightWhale]

Absolutely beautiful!!!

Far from beautiful, it is light pollution at its worst. The grandest light spires come from the K-Mart parking lot. You can read a newspaper at a mile from those alone.

[GodsLittleOne]

wow!!!!!!!! it's so amazing. I can't believe...woooowwww.

[BossyRoofer]

AWSOME! I have seen a sun pillar hear in arizona in my back yard early in the morning. I have always wondered what it was, thanks for the explanation! GREAT picture!