Swiss Sun Pillar

January 03, 2008

Img_8272

Referred by: Serge Walczak
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster, Serge Walczak

The photo above shows a conspicuous Sun pillar as seen from Bossonnens, Switzerland on September 9, 2007 at 8:05 p.m. local time. As the Sun dipped beneath the western horizon, atmospheric ice crystals were perfectly positioned to reflect the Sun's light toward the camera. When sunlight enters the underside of ice crystals and is then reflected off of their upper sides, memorable pillars can occasionally be observed.