Sun Dog – Day 834

Evolution of a Sun Dog? – Photo: L. Weikel

Sun Dog

I can’t say for sure that the atmospheric phenomenon we observed late the other afternoon was technically a sun dog. But it sure looked cool.

To my eye, it didn’t look like most of the examples I saw when I looked ‘sun dog’ up on the internet. Most of the examples I saw seemed to indicate that sun dogs appear two at a time – one on each side of the sun, usually at a 22° angle. There were a number of other phenomena described that are apparently closely associated: rainbow halos and, although they weren’t called it in the couple of things I read, rainbow dogs, being a few.

This Wikipedia entry on sun dogs is impressively thorough. I found this reference toward the end of the “Etymology” section sounded a lot like my idea of the rainbow dogs with which I’m familiar: “

“In the Anglo-Cornish dialect of Cornwall, United Kingdom, sun dogs are known as weather dogs (described as “a short segment of a rainbow seen on the horizon, foreshowing foul weather”).”

Tracking the dog – Photo: L. Weikel

As Above, So Below

Again, though, almost everything I read indicates an expectation of at least two sun dogs appearing on either side of the sun. My photos from yesterday’s post and those accompanying today’s post definitely portray a ‘double sun’ one on top of the other. I at least took comfort in the historical reference from Rome that mentioned a “double sun.” Most of the others described a triple sun.

Some descriptions seem to definitively state that sun dogs occur on either side of the sun – never above or below. But that’s precisely what we witnessed; so that’s puzzling.

The brilliant red color of the sun dog, if we want to call it that, particularly as the sun was sinking behind the cloud in the photos of this post, is in keeping with the descriptions of many sun dogs. But as you can see, it really did look like a round red twin sun – but in more of a totem pole configuration than a side-by-side, defying conventional description.

Technical Talk

All the technical talk of refraction of sunlight off of ice crystals in the atmosphere actually lends credence to accurately considering our experience to have been one of witnessing a sun dog.

Technically speaking, I’m still marveling at the stunning beauty that unfolded before our eyes. Refraction, reflection, ice crystals, sunset, omens, feeling ‘lucky’ for having been at the perfect place at the perfect time to watch the sun go through this optical evolution…

Just because we understand the mechanics behind our observations doesn’t make them any less of a delight – or detract from the rarity of experiencing such a meteorological treat – and celebrating it as a blessing of sorts.

This blessing is for all of us. Surely good things are on the horizon.

Photo: L. Weikel

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