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.

Sundogs from Wickipedia
Moondogs from Wickipedia
Sun Pillar from Wickipedia

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