Sun Halo, Tangent Arc, Sun Dogs and Sun Pillar, Shetland

Lerwick, 30 March 2008

I saw the sun halo and then the tangent arc. I don't think I've seen a tangent arc before - certainly never photographed one. There are also two faint sun dogs in the image too, as well as the halo (stand well back from the monitor to see them). But then, about an hour after sunset I saw this wonderful triangular pink patch in the sky, above where the sun had set. I imagine it's a sun pillar but I've not seen one this shape before - it seems to follow the shape of the tangent arc I photographed earlier. If anyone knows that it has a different name or how it came about I'd be glad to know. All the photos of sun pillars I've come across are just like pillars. I wondered if somehow the ice crystals in the upper atmosphere are somehow deflecting the reflected sunlight?

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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun halo with Tangent Arc and Sun Dogs at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun Pillar at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun Pillar at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun Pillar at Lerwick, Shetland
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Sun Pillar at Lerwick, Shetland
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