A "sun pillar" is caused by sunlight refracted by ice crystals high in the atmosphere. 25 minutes before sunrise on February 27, 2005.

Tags:   washington dc sun pillar PhotoFaceOffWinner district of columbia atmospheric optics silhouettes washington monument u.s. capitol lincoln memorial sky clouds twilight dcist arlington virginia red orange PFOSilver obelisk

© All Rights Reserved

This ice halo is actually a fragment of a very large arc around the horizon. The sun must be high in the sky around solar noon for these haloes to appear.

Tags:   dcist atmospheric optics ice halo ice haloes circumhorizon arc

© All Rights Reserved

Multiple haloes like this are quite rare. Count the rings!

Also note a rough upper tangent arc at the top.

Tags:   dcist atmospheric optics ice halo ice haloes 22 degree halo upper tangent arc arlington virginia multiple haloes

© All Rights Reserved

When I was little, I thought that cloud shadows and crepuscular rays pointed the way to heaven. Now I know that they're caused by sunlight shining through airborne dust and water vapor, accentuating the shadows and rays. Still, it might a nice thing to tell little kids who won't get the science.

highest Explore: #93

Available for purchase.

Tags:   dcist cloud shadow arlington virginia crepuscular rays PhotoFaceOffWinner clouds sky blue explore PFOSilver atmospheric optics

© All Rights Reserved

Tags:   atmospheric optics 22 degree halo ice haloes ice halo arlington virginia

© All Rights Reserved