Cheraw State Park Sun Pillar

Provided and copyright by: Jeffrey Carlson
Summary authors & editors: Jeffrey Carlson, Jim Foster 

The tantalizing Sun pillar shown above was captured just before sunset from Cheraw State Park in South Carolina, on November 11, 2007. Its reflection in Lake Juniper added further to this delightful scene. Pillars are caused when light enters the underside of horizontally oriented ice crystals and is then reflected off of their upper sides. Typically, Sun pillars are approximately 5-10 degrees in angular height, as was the case with this appealing pillar.