It's almost the winter solstice. There's a lot of doom and gloom talk out there. So I thought I would brighten that up a bit. I honestly believe the galactic alignment tomorrow (12-21-12) will be a new start to our old world. This happens only once approximately every 25,600+ years, so it's amazing that we're all here for it. Put some good thoughts out there for the world, if you're so inclined.

Anyway, I went outside this afternoon to get some fresh air and feed the birds/squirrels. The one or two clouds in the sky were moving really fast, so I looked up to see them. Right above my head was the most amazing sight. I hurried and got a camera - and my Mom to witness it! Our neighbor and mailman saw it too. My sister too, after I called her.

The rainbow stayed in the sky for at least 30 minutes. I went out three times to look, it was so stunning. And it was FREEZING cold out. With that one little cloud in the sky, it looks like it's smiling!

It hadn't rained, there wasn't an abundance of clouds, we don't live near a body of water to reflect it and it was 3:10 in the afternoon when the sun was an hour away from setting. But the most awesome thing was that it was upside down! If anyone can explain that, you get the science award of the year.

I know that MG can really get us down some days. While seeing a rainbow or any other wonderful thing in nature doesn't negate that, it certainly brightens up my world when I stumble upon the universe revealing itself to me.


Annie

In case you like looking up at the sky at night to see the stars and the milky way . . .

http://www.allskycam.com/

http://mtham.ucolick.org/techdocs/MH_weather/skycam/

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12202012Rainbow.jpg (61.3 KB, 92 views)

I actually heard about these recently, I think because they were showing a picture of one on the news.

It occurs when a thin layer of ice crystals form in the upper atmosphere. The sun shines through them, creating the image of an "upside-down" rainbow. It actually has nothing to do with rain or proximity to any source of water at all.

Either way, it's a neat phenomenon and a beautiful picture you have!

Okay, you get the award!

They're called "circumzenithal arcs/rainbows" and happen when the sun is low in the sky, in the morning or evening. I've just never seen one and there weren't any clouds.

It's also odd because they are normally right over the sun but this was mid-sky, right overhead. They actually do call them "smiles."

It was just such a cool thing to happen. I'm still giggling about it.

Annie

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-ci...nithal-arc.htm

And while I hate referring to Wikipedia . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumzenithal_arc

Not too long ago I took a picture of a rainbow around the sun, but I only captured part of it. I think they call it a sun dog. Maybe this is something similar. I've never tried an attachment here before. I hope it works.

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Quandry, That's a sun "halo" with sun dogs. Sun dogs, or parhelion, are equidistant from the sun, on either side of the sun. A halo can be around the moon or sun and normally goes all the way around it (unless there are clouds).

That's a great pic! I appreciate you sharing it.

Annie

nifty nifty!

It is December 21st, and the sun rose. Guess those predictions weren't correct.