Optical Phenomena


Sun Pillar

sunpilr1.jpg (24444 bytes)
Mt. Wilson Observatory. Copyright ©2000 C. Gino
A sun pillar is a vertical column of light, usually appearing above the rising or setting sun. This occurs when light is reflected by horizontally oriented ice crystals in high-level cirroform clouds or ice-fog near the earth's surface.
sunpilr2.jpg (13978 bytes)
Socorro, New Mexico. Copyright ©2000 C. Gino

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Last updated 12/15/00 Copyright © 2000 C. Gino.