Sun Pillar Over Southwestern Illinois

February 26, 2013

Beccas Sun Pillar

Photographer: Becca Tsigili Xayasith
Summary Authors: Stan Stratton; Jim Foster

The photo above showing a magenta colored Sun pillar was captured over the Diamond-Hurricane Island State Fish and Waterfowl Management Area of Illinois, a little before sunrise on the morning of January 13, 2013. Pillars can be seen if plate shaped ice crystals, either free falling in the atmosphere or in cirrus type clouds, are all aligned the same way and tilted a bit with respect to the observer. Since we only see once predominant color, we know that pillars are a reflection phenomenon.

Photo details: Nikon Digital Coolpix S8100.