Another Sunset

Sunset in Texas

May 4, 2011 - Atmospheric Phenomenon

Hi everyone... This is Katherine. I just wanted to share some great shots I got this morning with my cell phone. In all the pictures there is a clear 22 degree halo around the sun and in the ones taken at sunrise a very bright upper tangent arc (pretty rare). Some sun rise photos include parhelion (sun dogs). There may be a possibly a 44 degree arc which is super rare but I only noticed it in images that I upped the contrast and it may be a camera artifact. These phenomenon are caused by tiny ice crystals in the air. The last picture was taken at 11:45 am and the halo was still there! All others around 7:30 am. The second to last picture has an outer area digital enhanced to make the 44 degree halo more visible.

22 = 22 degree halo
44 = 44 degree halo
P = Parhelion
UTA = Upper tangent arc