Caught these pics at Popham today. I believe it's called a sun dog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog





I've spent many hours gazing at the sky during my lifetime but never seen anything like it before. Isn't Nature wonderful!

That appears to be more than a 'sun dog' - almost like an aurora during the day.  Our old weather observer sundog was basically prismatic light on either side of the sun at three and nine o'clock.  All the way around was a 'Corona' - now a fairly popular beer  .

olderndirt wrote on Jul 11^th, 2010 at 9:37pm:

beaky wrote on Jul 11^th, 2010 at 9:50pm:

Thanks for the comments chaps. I think it is a 'sun dog' or parhelion to use its correct name. It fits the general descriptions I've found online. It lasted for some time & I was in the right place with the ideal lens to get decent photos of it. I resisted the temptation to tweak them in Photoshop to make them more dramatic & only processed them enough to look as I saw it. I've spotted some very interesting cloud formations this year. It occurred to me that they might be the result of the volcanic dust from Iceland. After all the fuss a few weeks ago the news media now seem to have forgotten the subject.

patchz wrote on Jul 11^th, 2010 at 10:59pm:

Good idea Larry. I might just do that.

PS. eno wrote on Jul 12^th, 2010 at 3:20am:

Thanks eno.

Flying Trucker wrote on Jul 12^th, 2010 at 7:19am:

Wow ....... nice one Doug ..... they must have got their act together now at the Cloud Appreciation Society, or it is because you spotted something rare that you got such a quick response.

They have in the past been really slow at replying to questions or requests.

Good morning Doug...

That is service and quick as well...

Being a sky and cloud watcher myself I have seen some marvelous sights here in Canada.  Not quite like that though so you are very lucky.   

That "Link" refers to America and it's southern neightbours but does not mention Canada so I take it because of the geographic location and temperatures they would see more of that sort of thing in the United States, Mexico, etc. than we would here in Canada.

Kindly let us know how you make out on the second shot you sent.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Excellent "Link" Doug...some beautiful shots on it.   

Taken in the Province of New Brunswick...wonderful

I am not sure if the proximity to large bodies of open water has anything to do with this phenomenon as I have not read the entire link yet.
Will do so shortly.

But now being right on the Great Lakes I shall have to watch the sky a little closer then usual.   

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug