Friday, September 19, 2008

Parhelion

I learn all kinds of things about the world from CDP bloggers. Mary Beth at Small City Scenes of Stanwood clued me in to sundogs with one of her photos. I had never heard of or seen a sundog in my life. And let me tell you, I'm no spring chicken.

Maybe I just needed to LOOK UP more. Because when I LOOKED UP last week at World's Fair Park around sunset there it was. A sundog! A parhelion par excellence! A celestial phenomenon! With many exclamation points!

I ran around in little circles shouting, "Look! Look! A sundog!" The man sitting on the bench by the fountain probably thought I was barking mad; he gave me a worried look and sidled away to the other side of his bench as I snapped away.

But as I took a deep, calming breath and walked away to find more photo opportunities, don't think I didn't notice him pulling out his pocket point-and-shoot camera and aiming it at the heavens too.

Look up Sky Watch Friday and see what other folks around the globe saw when they LOOKED UP.

31 comments:

Arija said...

Oh what a super shot, those pastel colours in the center so well set off against the super dark blues and purples, just stuunig.

Hilda said...

Of course I had to look up parhelion and sun dog — and I could barely understand the too-scientific explanation. LOL!

Whatever, this is a gorgeous shot! The rainbow colors of the clouds is awesome!

Fish Whisperer said...

Beatiful sundog. You have some neat images on you blog.
Cheers

Jim Klenke said...

Great pic, love the colors in the sky. Now I am going to have to look for one.

Woody said...

wow, awesome shot!

Virginia said...

I had no clue either. Thanks for the Friday am enlightenment. I'll start looking more closely. YOur sky is gorgeous.

Tanya Breese said...

That is AWESOME deserving of lots of exclamation points!!!!!!
I've never heard of a sundog before and now of course will be on a mission to find one!

Saretta said...

That is one beautiful dog! My compliments!

AphotoAday said...

Yep, you captured a great sundog...
I'm as old as dirt, but I've only seen those two times in my lifetime...

Petrea Burchard said...

Wow. WOW! Gorgeous shot! I learned about sundogs in astronomy class in college. But I haven't looked up and seen one in a long time.

Hope said...

I've never heard of a sundog either, nor a parhelion. I shall have to google those immediately. It's a good thing to learn something new every day.

This photo is absolutely gorgeous. I would have been excited too and not worried what folks thought nearby.

But, I admit, I would have been pulling out a point & shoot camera. I hope someday I will get to experience such a beautiful vision in the sky!

Mary said...

Wonderful sundog! Aren't they neat??

Anonymous said...

OMG...How gorgeous....

Laurie Allee said...

I love the things I learn from my fellow daily photo bloggers. I'd never heard of a sundog before, and now I simply must see one for myself!!!

This photo is so beautiful, Knox. Wow, wow and more wow. All kinds of superlative WOW!!!

RegentCardis said...

Wow, the colors in that photo are amazing! Nice camera work.

Anonymous said...

Ooh - you lucky dog, you got a sundog. I want one too! Very nicely captured. Thanks for stopping by my place, neighbor!

Pat said...

Pardon the pun, but you've enlightened me! That is one beautiful sky.

marley said...

Well you live and learn. I've never heard of this before. And what a brilliant photo. Great sky watch :)

peppylady (Dora) said...

I like it great shot.

If you have the time stop by and take a look at my sky picture and the coffee is on.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I have to admit I hadn't heard of them either until recently, and yes it was cdp. We just don't use the term in the UK but I intend to infiltrate it into the language here.
Outstanding shot, and back to those Turner skies.

D said...

Cool! I had no idea. I learn so much from you cdp folks. Now I'll be watching for sundogs too!

Leedra said...

This is sooooooo awesome. I must have been sitting at my desk working (like a good girl) when this was in the sky right outside my office. Makes me want to retire now. Never seen or heard of one of these before.

syel said...

amazing! you're lucky to catch one!the pastel colours are very beautiful!

airplane5312 said...

Very nice photo.

Matt said...

I've never seen that before. It's like Knoxville's own little aurora borealis!

Leedra said...

I have given you an award. Please come by and retrieve it to display on your blog, and pass on.

Dianne said...

OH WOW!!

I'd run around too :)

Laura ~Peach~ said...

amazing and quite beautiful !!! I too have never heard of a sundog!

crittoria said...

INCREDIBLE!! That is so beautiful and you got such a fantastic shot!!

tr3nta said...

Wow... never seen colors like those in the sky lucky of you... great photo...

Leedra said...

I pulled this back up to show my husband. Saw something similiar in St Pete Beach last night, but it was not as colorful. Your's is better.