Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Sun Dog

Today there were two suns in the sky: neither of them distinct or spherical, just a brightness breaking through the wound in a cloud, and then, about 20 degrees to the right, another intense brightness, slightly smaller - the sun's dog.

16 Comments:

Blogger Claire Beynon said...

Hi Clare - I LOVE sun dogs... was fortunate to see a couple of them in Antarctica a year ago. They make me want to drop to my knees and kiss the ground, kiss the air. What a great way to announce the first official day of Autumn in the N. Hemisphere!

Wed Sept 01, 08:17:00 am  
Blogger Brian Clegg said...

'Sundog' is also the title of a rather good juvenile SF book by Brian N. Ball. I'm envious - I've never seen a sundog.

Wed Sept 01, 08:30:00 am  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

I agree Claire - it is inspiring and uplifting in a strange way. I went out in my dressing gown to the end of the drive with my camera and wanted other people to notice it too. Look at that - two suns!

Brian: what a great title for a book! This is the first time I've ever seen one too. My husband noticed it first. He said he first noticed it because there was a rainbow of colours through the clouds, but by the time I got outside this had gone. I'd thought it was an arctic or antarctic only phenomenon - very surprised to see it over my own house.

Wed Sept 01, 09:10:00 am  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

The picture was useless, sadly - the sky came out a uniform white.

Wed Sept 01, 09:14:00 am  
Blogger Jim Murdoch said...

How could I get to my age and never have heard about this? There were some wonderful pictures online I just found.

Wed Sept 01, 11:44:00 am  
Blogger Anne S said...

How marvellous! I'd love to see two suns, but alas I've never witnessed such a thing, though when I was a child living in the bush, I did see the aurora australis, streaks of silver and rose. Also remember ball lightning hanging from trees, but no sun dogs!

Wed Sept 01, 11:52:00 am  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

I only heard about it relatively recently, Jim - related are halos (which I have seen around the moon from the UK) and sun pillars (which I have seen in the Arctic).

Oh now I'm envious Anne - I would really love to see the Aurora! And ball lightning... I'd no idea they were stationary things - and to see them hanging from trees. They must have seemed like spectacular Christmas decorations.

Wed Sept 01, 12:20:00 pm  
Blogger cromercrox said...

What breed was the sun dog? Golden retriever, I hope.

Wed Sept 01, 03:39:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Ah yes, Henry, I do believe it was - he chased immediately after the ball lightning I threw, and returned without getting wet (which I reckoned ruled out the Labrador model).

Wed Sept 01, 03:56:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Sorry, I meant Cromercrox.

Wed Sept 01, 03:57:00 pm  
Anonymous Mary said...

I've seen quite a few sun dogs, Clare, but when I think of it, I believe that's mostly been in the winter. Makes sense, I suppose, because sun dogs are a result of ice crystals, which we get a lot of in Minnesota.

Wed Sept 01, 06:26:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Yes, I was surprised to see it this time of year too. Minnesota's weather seems to be a lot more extreme than ours. I suppose you're not far enough from the equator for the Northern Lights, though - just as we are.

Wed Sept 01, 08:13:00 pm  
Blogger cromercrox said...

Aaargh! My secret identity is exposed!!! And I could have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those pesky meddling kids.

Thu Sept 02, 12:31:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

"Scooby, scooby doo!"

or maybe...

"Watch that pigeon, now."

Thu Sept 02, 12:55:00 pm  
Anonymous Minnie said...

Is this phenomenon what is called a 'perihelion'? Confess to being woefully unscientific (& far from proud of it), & had heard of this only via medieval history (vision of Edward of York & Co prior to winning ? the Battle of Mortimer's Cross).
Very impressed by your packing. Am one who has of necessity to travel light; so know a few of the tricks! But it isn't easy. Bon voyage!

Fri Sept 03, 01:17:00 pm  
Blogger Clare Dudman said...

Yes, Minnie - same thing. That, I think,is the more scientific term. I didn't know that about Edward of York. I must have seemed like quite an omen.

Mon Sept 06, 07:29:00 am  

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