7/20/2005: Circumzenithal Arc

Undertoad · 07-20-2005, 03:32 PM

Today's Earth Science Pic of the Day is breathtaking, an absolute stunner. At first I thought it must be enhanced, but no - as the official caption from photographer Thomas Herrmann has it:

Sitting in a garden in Erlensee, Germany on May 27, I realized that cirrus clouds were visible all across the sky. Knowing that these clouds can provide an opportunity to observe atmospheric phenomena, I kept an eye on the sky and was rewarded by seeing the amazing circumzenithal arc, shown above. With just a little imagination, you can see seahorses floating inside the arc. Circumzenithal arcs are perhaps the most colourful of all halo-related phenomena. In fact, many people who witness them believe they're rainbows because of their beauty and arc-like shape. However, contrary to a rainbow, which forms a circle around the antisolar point, a circumzenithal arc appears, as its name implies, at the zenith. Only the portion pointing towards the Sun is visible.

I still don't quite understand it.

Trilby · 07-20-2005, 03:34 PM

CoolCoolCool!!! I want the poster!

Queen of the Ryche · 07-20-2005, 04:01 PM

looks like a little yellow electric person jumping off the end.....

capnhowdy · 07-20-2005, 06:02 PM

I don't understand the caption entirely, but I do know this is cool. And very beautiful. I guess you can only see these in Germany. I've never seen anything close to this. Very interesting. Input. Input. Input. Thanx.
This guy was really lucky to get this shot.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-20-2005, 07:38 PM

If you go to the link there is a link to the photographers website. It's not in English but I actually spent a couple hours looking at his pictures yesterday.

wah · 07-20-2005, 10:58 PM

Hmmm, I guess that's not the same kind of thing I saw.

<a href="http://photos13.flickr.com/19227211_5b8abd983a_b.jpg">Here's a couple</i> <a href="http://photos15.flickr.com/19227212_0a32228f97_b.jpg">shots</a> of a rainbow-like thing I saw over Phoenix a couple months back.

I'm still not sure what it was. Just a very dense cloud acting like a prism.

And did you see <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8631798/">why the sky is blue? And why it <i>really</i> isn't</a>. Cool article.

poohbearbeth · 07-20-2005, 11:43 PM

Looks like little seahorses dancing!

Elspode · 07-20-2005, 11:48 PM

Those are sundogs...one on each side of the sun.

wah · 07-20-2005, 11:50 PM

everyday I tell ya. Every day.

Trilby · 07-21-2005, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

Those are sundogs...one on each side of the sun.

How did you know that? I've never heard of sundogs. You amaze me, els.

The Cellar is an amazing place.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-21-2005, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

Those are sundogs...one on each side of the sun.

How can they be sun dogs if they're 48 degrees above the sun? Don't sun dogs flank the sun?

mlandman · 07-21-2005, 12:15 PM

.....all I could think of was Spencer Tunic (or whatever the dude's name is that takes pictures of all the naked people) and a knife.

-mike

xoxoxoBruce · 07-21-2005, 06:53 PM

Your thinking of Rabbi Turnick.

Elspode · 07-21-2005, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

How can they be sun dogs if they're 48 degrees above the sun? Don't sun dogs flank the sun?

I thought those *were* flanking the sun...

What did you do, drag out the antique protractor and measure the mean angle of the apparitions?

wolf · 07-21-2005, 11:55 PM

Bruce just knows.

07-20-2005, 03:32 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	7/20/2005: Circumzenithal Arc Today's Earth Science Pic of the Day is breathtaking, an absolute stunner. At first I thought it must be enhanced, but no - as the official caption from photographer Thomas Herrmann has it: Sitting in a garden in Erlensee, Germany on May 27, I realized that cirrus clouds were visible all across the sky. Knowing that these clouds can provide an opportunity to observe atmospheric phenomena, I kept an eye on the sky and was rewarded by seeing the amazing circumzenithal arc, shown above. With just a little imagination, you can see seahorses floating inside the arc. Circumzenithal arcs are perhaps the most colourful of all halo-related phenomena. In fact, many people who witness them believe they're rainbows because of their beauty and arc-like shape. However, contrary to a rainbow, which forms a circle around the antisolar point, a circumzenithal arc appears, as its name implies, at the zenith. Only the portion pointing towards the Sun is visible. I still don't quite understand it.

07-20-2005, 03:34 PM	#2
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	CoolCoolCool!!! I want the poster! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

07-20-2005, 04:01 PM	#3
Queen of the Ryche is fleeing the scene Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Beautiful CO Posts: 1,510	looks like a little yellow electric person jumping off the end..... __________________ Once, in an interview, Chuck Norris admitted that he was not the most awesome thing ever. He declined to elaborate; but I believe we all know that he was referring to the existence of chocolate covered bacon. I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.

07-20-2005, 06:02 PM	#4
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	I don't understand the caption entirely, but I do know this is cool. And very beautiful. I guess you can only see these in Germany. I've never seen anything close to this. Very interesting. Input. Input. Input. Thanx. This guy was really lucky to get this shot. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

07-20-2005, 07:38 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	If you go to the link there is a link to the photographers website. It's not in English but I actually spent a couple hours looking at his pictures yesterday. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-20-2005, 10:58 PM	#6
wah Vivacious Vivisectionist Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 36	Hmmm, I guess that's not the same kind of thing I saw. <a href="http://photos13.flickr.com/19227211_5b8abd983a_b.jpg">Here's a couple</i> <a href="http://photos15.flickr.com/19227212_0a32228f97_b.jpg">shots</a> of a rainbow-like thing I saw over Phoenix a couple months back. I'm still not sure what it was. Just a very dense cloud acting like a prism. And did you see <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8631798/">why the sky is blue? And why it <i>really</i> isn't</a>. Cool article.

07-20-2005, 11:43 PM	#7
poohbearbeth Keeper of the Decorum Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 59	Looks like little seahorses dancing!

07-20-2005, 11:48 PM	#8
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Those are sundogs...one on each side of the sun. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

07-20-2005, 11:50 PM	#9
wah Vivacious Vivisectionist Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 36	ahh, thanks everyday I tell ya. Every day.

07-21-2005, 12:15 PM	#12
mlandman Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 87	looking at the title of the thread.... .....all I could think of was Spencer Tunic (or whatever the dude's name is that takes pictures of all the naked people) and a knife. -mike

07-21-2005, 06:53 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Your thinking of Rabbi Turnick. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-21-2005, 11:55 PM	#15
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Bruce just knows. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

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