Feather Cloud

April 04, 2002

Newfeather

Provided by: Yagel Koren
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster; Yagel Koren

This picture was taken at the Jezre'el valley, Israel, near sunset on February 6, 2000. The beautiful cirrus cloud, in the center of the photo, really does look like a feather floating in the evening sky. Cirrus clouds are sometimes referred to as "feather clouds" or "mares tails." They're composed of hexagonal ice crystals and are commonly found of altitudes of 20,000 feet (6,455 m) or higher. Note also the parhelia or sundogs on either side of the Sun, which is partially obscured by what appears to be a cirro-stratus cloud.

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