Rare optical illusion caught on film - Sun Pillar AND reflection of setting sun in clouds above. , page 2

reply to post by westcoast

---

I saw this same effect in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in December! It was awesome.

Nice Sun Pillar capture. I saw one a few years back in New Mexico. I thought I was looking at an alien sunset. Middle of summer, and this beam of light shows up on the horizon. I have not see one since.

Here a couple photos of it. Thankfully I was already out photographing the under lit clouds when i noticed it.

Thank you for all the replies. I LOVE the pictures! Beautiful!

As to National Geographic....well, i could try to send it to them, but I know they literally get thousands of pics all the time and I think it would be very hard to get noticed. They have professional level stuff coming across their desk on a regular basis.

I wrote a on-line message to King 5 and I got a stupid response saying...yup. It's a sun pillar. DUH. I know that. They didn't seem at all interested. Oh well.

Perhaps it really isn't that rare....but I still haven't found any other pics like it...with the reflection at the top. I don't care though. It has been fun being able to share it and if anyone else has enjoyed it, than it was worth the time.

I went back out last night just in case...and ofcourse, no sun pillar. there WAS however some extremely cool cloud formations. I'll share couple of those pics. Not sure of the name for these types...maybe someone else does?

reply to post by westcoast

---

Lenticular clouds.
Forming of the Olympics perhaps?

reply to post by Phage

---

You know, the end of the 'wisp' really looked like a lenticular cloud....and yes, the olympics are in the general direction but quite a ways to the south. It's obvious there were some currents going up there, so maybe there was a wierd interaction with the Olympics that caused those clouds to form so far away? Never seen them out there like that before.

As to the rareness of the original pics: I know sun pillars are not considered rare, I am referring to what seems to be the sun reflected in the clouds above it at the same time. It may not be rare after-all, but I still have yet to see another picture confirmation of it occuring elsewhere. (doesn't mean it hasn't, just that I haven't seen it! )

reply to post by westcoast

---

Lenticular clouds can be created by what are referred to as lee waves. These are waves in the atmosphere which occur in the lee (downwind) of the mountain which produces them. Like the waves which form downstream of a boulder in a river, they can occur (and repeat) at fairly long distances from their source. Quite amazing and they can make for great soaring conditions.

upload.wikimedia.org...

reply to post by westcoast

---

It's Elenin
No wait, It's Nibiru
NO NO it's insert ______ the world is over

reply to post by Nemo418

---

Yes i believe it is. And I do live fairly far north and in one of the most moist (non-tropical) locations.

And not to mention, regardless, I always have an awesome open view from the backyard.

But yea I see the pillars quite frequently, the second son not as frequently, but a decent amount.

reply to post by westcoast

---

GREAT THANKS.

Added to my webshots.com screensaver.

I hope you are ready for quakes etc. I lived in Spokane about 10 years. Your corner of the State is beautiful . . . though greatly full of hazards.

I suppose Butchard gardens is as beautiful as ever, too.

Picture Shows How All Humans On Earth Would Fit Into One 900 Meter-Wide Ball
  Posted 3 days ago with 96 member flags

Trees that witnessed the rise and fall of empires throughout history
  Posted 5 days ago with 93 member flags

An unusual tree called Jaboticaba
  Posted 8 days ago with 77 member flags

Haunting pics of abandoned cities around the world
  Posted 4 days ago with 63 member flags

The Mysterious Socotra Island (Must See!)
  Posted 2 days ago with 63 member flags

Strange Sounds (UK) published on youtube on 5/13/2012
  Posted 17 days ago with 53 member flags

Illinois illegally seizes bees resistant to Roundup; kills remaining queens
  Posted 1 days ago with 50 member flags

Pole Shift Data You Shouldn\'t Ignore
  Posted 14 days ago with 46 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time: