Spectacular Photo Captures Optical Phenomena


The photo above, taken by Joshua Thomas, is of a sunrise in Red River, New Mexico. But it's not simply a beautiful photo. A number of optical illusions are captured in the image, namely a 22º halo, a sun pillar, a sun dog, infralateral arc, supralateral arc, helic arcs, sunvex parry arc, upper suncave parry arc and upper tangent arc.

After the photo was posted to Facebook by the National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas, the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin created the graphic below, labeling the phenomena. Visit their post of the graphic here, see this site for additional information, and click on the terms above for definitions. -Via Gizmodo


I've found this site quite useful for learning about and identifying halos. The site has both simulation images and frequent real images, explains the situation leading to halos, and mentions how rare some of them are. It even has a small section on halos on different planets where ice other than water ice would form different crystal shapes.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
  2 replies
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 4 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"Spectacular Photo Captures Optical Phenomena"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More