Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Key West Sun Halo

Last Tuesday was exciting cyber-paw pals. We saw a 22-degree solar halo. The picture below was taken by one of Dog Dad’s co-workers. It sure is neat. The halo is caused by light passing through ice crystals in high clouds, way up in the Sun.

22 degree Solar Halo
29 April 2008 - Key West, FL

When Dog Dad lived in North Dakota a pawzillion dog moons before we met him, he saw several sundogs, a moondog and even a few sun pillars. Sundogs occur when the Sun is low and commonly seen in blowing snow. North Dakota has plenty of blowing snow. The fancy term for sundog is a parhelion and a moondog is called a paraselene. If you want to read more about halos go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon). You can find out more about sundogs, moondogs and sun pillars there too. Sorry Mojo and Rosie, there are no suncats or mooncats.

Legend has it that a sundog is portends good luck when spotted on a long journey or before a hunt. Sundogs appear early in the movie “The Deer Hunter.” Robert De Niro’s character remarks that it is “A blessing on the hunter sent by the great wolf to his children.” Dog Dad refers to Essex as Moondog at times and Deacon as Sundog. We must be good luck.

Dog speed,

Essex & Deacon

13 comments:

Mack said...

Mom doesn't say anything about ME being good luck....

But those were some pawsome pics!

Studio Evans said...

Wow, the sun.....now that I live in BC Canada I hardly ever get to see the sun....

Gunner

Maximillian the Valliant said...

Those are cool, but I want to know if you've seen the green flash.

Mom said she has...I haven't a clue what she is talking about though.

I'd like to consider that I'm a sundog. I love laying outside in the cool dirt with the sun on me.

Maxey (MTV)

Princess Eva and Brice said...

Thanks for stopping by our blog. Momma wishes that she had known that you were in KW. She would have stopped by with a treat for you.

Tasha & Eva

Urban Smoothie Read said...

hey sundog and moondog...i'm sure you guys are greatdogs...

jamie said...

Those are cool pics. I love th double rainbow shots that you had a coupleof posts ago. Really beautiful. Take care y'all!
Jamie & Sunny & Scooter

Islay said...

Nice photos! I had a post last year about moon- and sun-dogs; I quite like them. We dogs can see all kinds of things that humans cannot!

licks & slobbers
-Charlie

P.S. I asked a blogging animal friend how to keep a post at the top and she said to put a future date on it - what do you know, it worked! Some others said I couldn't do that, but I don't know how blogger works, so it must not apply!

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

Hi, we are friends of Charlie's. That is neat about the sun dogs and the sun halo. ~Scylla, Charybdis & Socks

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Cool pics. I am a cruising mate of Charlie's. Just calling in to say 'mieow' as we are sailing by your caotst.

Islay said...

Ahoy Collies! The motor yacht HIJINX has arrived! Come aboard and join the party and we'll sail about in the rainbows with the dolphins, etc!

licks& slobbers
-Charlie

Jans Funny Farm said...

Hi, I don't think we've met before but I'm with Charlie & the gang cruising on the HiJinx. Just stopped by to make new friends.

Rusty,
Jan's Funny Farm

Islay said...

Hey, Opus, put that steering wheel back - who's driving this boat?

Tatum Tot said...

That is really pretty! I like being outside when the sun isn't too hot. It was hot last weekend but we were inside mostly. Anyway... hi!