Thursday, April 2, 2009

SkyWatch #38 – April Fools’ Sunset

skywatch

Last night, the sunset sky seemed to intentionally offer a contribution for this week’s SkyWatch post:

flare 4

These photos were taken near my home in northeast Iowa, USA.flare 2

If you know the scientific explanation for the colorful shaft of light which is part of this sunset, please include it in a comment.

flare 1

Thank you for stopping by this SkyWatch post. Please visit Skyley.com to find the multitude of other links to beautiful sky scenes from around the globe.

*

[Many thanks to Dewdrop who left info about the "sun pillar" in her comment to this post. She states: "A sun pillar is a beam of sunlight reflected upward from horizontal surfaces of ice crystals."]

19 comments:

Guy D said...

Magnificent photos, the colors are beautiful.

Have a great weekend!
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Gill - That British Woman said...

the colours are just stunning, no idea why there is that shaft of life..

Gill in Canada

EG CameraGirl said...

Interesting light there! Aren't skies amazing?

Erin said...

beautiful sky shots...colors are gorgeous. i don't think that is a sun dog, but maybe?
have a great weekend.

ninja said...

I can't offer any scientific explanation but I'd like to congratulate you on capturing it.

Dewdrop said...

You have captured a magnificent sun pillar! A sun pillar is a beam (pillar) of sunlight reflected upward from horizontal surfaces of ice crystals. Great capture! Aren't they cool?!

Anne said...

So beautiful, but strange...
Nice weekend from Norway Anne :-)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Dewdrop! I was going to ask my Hubby, my Mr. Science...

Really is neat Jeaannelle... I've never seen that before. Good capture!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Brad Myers said...

Good sky watch post, I have no answer for your question.

Kat Mortensen said...

You always have the coolest photos!
By the way, I couldn't resist posting a caption on your black and white photo from last year of the cute couple by the big chute.

Kat

ms426d said...

Amazing color! Thanks for sharing.

Arija said...

Wonderful photos and I'm glad Dew Drop enlightened us on the phenomenon.

Jim said...

Really beautiful colours.

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

Loved learning about sun pillars! Now, if only we can see one in person!

Carol said...

Great sunset shots...the colors are so beautiful...I have never seen a sun pillar...good catch

Unknown said...

Great photo's, I have never seen a sun pillar before, but now I'll know if I'm ever that lucky. Dew is a mine of information!

Gigi Ann said...

I love, love, love these sunset photos. But, as I always say, I never tire of looking at sunsets and pictures of sunsets. Those are beautiful.

Girl Tornado said...

Wow, a sun pillar, huh? Never knew that. Anyhoo, it's an awesome photo, quite spectacular!

Huzhar said...

Great sky watch photos. Nice to know about sun pillar..