OT: Sundog

Aren't they beautiful!! A sign of ice crystals high in the atmosphere. If you are *really* lucky, you sometimes both of them, on either side of the sun. In winter, we see them quite routinely.

I imagined you`d have more chance of seeing them where you are. It`s cooker today but not really cold, but, as you say I bet there are ice crystals up there!

This was a big one, too, and went from red nearest the sun to blue. I`ll be forever looking for them near sunset. Tried to take a photo with my camera-phone, but in a moving car I don`t think I got it! As you say - beautiful - and I can well understand why they used to be thought of as an omen

I`m trying to remember whether one was referred to by Shakespeare before the Battle of Bosworth (Richard III) or if it was in Julius Caesar, before his assassination.

Pat P

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I've never had much luck capturing them with a camera. They always look pale and watery on film. Haven't seen one since going digital so don't know if that will work any better. At least I will be able to see the result immediately!

If I`d had my digital camera with me it would have been much better, judging by results I`ve had with ordinary rainbows - but a phone camera is a pretty poor substitute!

Pat P

I've never heard of "Sundog". I'll have to do a search and read up one it. Carol In WI

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And occasionally, we get a complete ring around the sun! They are

*very* common in winter when it's very cold, calm and clear. Sun dogs are very *un*common here in the summer. In fact, I don't know that I've *ever* seen one in the summer.

Joan

I've seen them very rarely in summer when there is a major front moving through - usually followed by clouds and hail.

I've seen them very rarely in summer when there is a major front moving through - usually followed by clouds and hail.

I'm right across the state in Columbia (waving) - you don't see them often, but you do occasionally in winter and, as I said before, just before horrific storms :)

We had a heatwave for the past couple of days, but heavy rain and thunderstorms are promised for tomorrow

Pat

It is possible that with climatic changes around the globus , you might one day see them closer to your house , mirjam

It`s a "when the sun is low in the sky" thing, I believe! No you wouldn`t see "mine" there - it depends on the local weather - there needs to be high thin cloud contsining a certain kind of ice crystal! No wonder we don`t see them that often.

Pat P

Now I`ve found something else to look out for -

you, I have the advantage of seeing these all the time - thanks to having cataracts!!! Just call me Pollyanna! Pat P

The cause of sun dogs is ice crystals high in the atmosphere. If the weather is cold enough, then I would assume they can form at any time during the day. However, one would expect the cold conditions that cause sun dogs to from in the morning and evening if the weather is not extremely cold. HTH.

Hey Pat,

Notice your new moniker. Related to the series by the same name or something else prompted the change?

Tara

I've had the best luck spotting these in mid- to late-afternoon on crisp winter days (those days then the air seems to crackle). The sky is usually clear or only the thinnest wisps of cirrus clouds are present. You are far enough from Columbia to have completely different weather at any given time so I wouldn't count on you being able to see them at the same time as anyone there.