How does the Sun create a pillar of light in the sky?

Kompressor · 10-17-2010, 08:37 AM

The right weather conditions can send pillars of light shooting up across the sky. Find out how nature forms its own spotlights.

Many people have been walking home in the evening when they turned to see the setting sun seemingly shooting a beam of light directly up into the sky. I imagine fewer people have seen the same with the rising sun, but under the right conditions it can do the same. The beam can be diffuse or intense. It may be concentrated at the bottom and trailing off as it rises higher, or it can fade and brighten in unexpected places. It can even come from artificial light sources. Always, though, it forms a straight pillar rising up from the light.

Two things are needed to form a sun pillar; a strong light source which is close to the ground and a sky full of ice crystals. In a past post on Io9, we've shown how hexagonal ice crystals in the air can bend light, making it appear that there are multiple suns, or sun dogs. Sun pillars happen when the sunlight strikes these crystals from a different angle. Instead of going through the body of the crystal, reflecting off its sides, the light hits the bottom of the crystals and reflects back down to the earth.

Instead of escaping upwards into the sky, the sunlight gets reflected back down to earth. From an earthbound person's perspective, the light climbs upwards in a pillar. In reality, we're only seeing it because it got knocked back down to us.

msicidron · 10-17-2010, 09:50 AM

jah sun

The Rev · 10-17-2010, 11:57 AM

The sun. 93 million miles away and it's still too bright to look at. This nuclear fusion thing takes it too far.

The Rev

Captain Cannabis · 10-31-2010, 12:28 PM

**SageTree** · 11-01-2010, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Cannabis

When I was in Yellowknife, I was told these were called 'sun dogs' and I came to think of them as the 'other' northern lights, because it has to be pretty damn cold for the ice to form in the air, as I understand them.

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageTree

When I was in Yellowknife, I was told these were called 'sun dogs' and I came to think of them as the 'other' northern lights, because it has to be pretty damn cold for the ice to form in the air, as I understand them.

each halo has its own name. halos can be observed at any place on the surface of the earth, as they are formed by upper atmospheric ice crystals (ie far enough away from surface temp that you can see them in the hottest desert). the statistical average for seeing more common displays (like 22deg sun halos) is about 1/3. i have found after traveling a fair bit that most people are almost totally ignorant to halos. the most common is for people to have seen displays before but never having looked for them. i look for halos every time i go outside, and usually can spot some weak ones. there are times when you go through a weather pattern that produces many or no halos. you just gotta pay attention. safety is required when looking at the sun, and i have found that i can see halos better with polarized sunglasses.

your understand is not wrong, but a bit misinformed. the halos that can be seen determine which shape of ice crystals are in the upper atmosphere. the relative strength of the display depends on the incoming light and how uniform the field of ice crystals is between you and the source of light (usually the sun). you can see them at night when the moon is strong, leading to moonhalos, moondogs and moonbows.

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:13 AM

Atmospheric Optics

i can waste hours looking at this website

my_scatterheart · 11-01-2010, 08:17 AM

thats really awesome, in the true sense of the word. Thanks for the info

**SageTree** · 11-01-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Cannabis

each halo has its own name. halos can be observed at any place on the surface of the earth, as they are formed by upper atmospheric ice crystals (ie far enough away from surface temp that you can see them in the hottest desert). the statistical average for seeing more common displays (like 22deg sun halos) is about 1/3. i have found after traveling a fair bit that most people are almost totally ignorant to halos. the most common is for people to have seen displays before but never having looked for them. i look for halos every time i go outside, and usually can spot some weak ones. there are times when you go through a weather pattern that produces many or no halos. you just gotta pay attention. safety is required when looking at the sun, and i have found that i can see halos better with polarized sunglasses.

your understand is not wrong, but a bit misinformed. the halos that can be seen determine which shape of ice crystals are in the upper atmosphere. the relative strength of the display depends on the incoming light and how uniform the field of ice crystals is between you and the source of light (usually the sun). you can see them at night when the moon is strong, leading to moonhalos, moondogs and moonbows.

lol, I didn't know I even said enough to be misinformed.

I know they aren't auroras or anything of the like, I just jokingly call them 'the other' because there aren't many places on earth cold enough to see anything like that, partially due to the height on the sun in that time of year, which really pronounces the effect for sure.

Are you sure you're going into the right field of work Mr. Wizard?

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:27 AM

word. then you get to see stuff like this

which is happening every day. whenever you are standing is a totally unique never-to-be-repeated display just for you.

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageTree

lol, I didn't know I even said enough to be misinformed.

I know they aren't auroras or anything of the like, I just jokingly call them 'the other' because there aren't many places on earth cold enough to see anything like that, partially due to the height on the sun in that time of year, which really pronounces the effect for sure.

Are you sure you're going into the right field of work Mr. Wizard?

what i am saying is that you can see these (and more) ANYWHERE on the earths surface. ANY height of the sun, ANY time of day.

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:31 AM

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:32 AM

**SageTree** · 11-01-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Cannabis

what i am saying is that you can see these (and more) ANYWHERE on the earths surface. ANY height of the sun, ANY time of day.

Ok, right on, I gathered that some what from what you said, but your examples are good.... I've seen them for sure.

I guess I've never seen it so poignantly as in the NWT when it's nearly blinding w/ the triple sun appearance.

cheers Doc.

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:37 AM

happening now in an iris near you! moondogs

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:40 AM

Captain Cannabis · 11-01-2010, 08:42 AM

moonhalo

Freewilly · 11-07-2010, 08:24 PM

Very interesting

Captain Cannabis · 11-07-2010, 08:39 PM

same way any source of light creates a pillar

Captain Cannabis · 11-07-2010, 08:40 PM

10-17-2010, 08:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kompressor Voice of Reason Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Illinois Posts: 8,361 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3,069 Times in 1,634 Posts	How does the Sun create a pillar of light in the sky? How does the Sun create a pillar of light in the sky? The right weather conditions can send pillars of light shooting up across the sky. Find out how nature forms its own spotlights. Many people have been walking home in the evening when they turned to see the setting sun seemingly shooting a beam of light directly up into the sky. I imagine fewer people have seen the same with the rising sun, but under the right conditions it can do the same. The beam can be diffuse or intense. It may be concentrated at the bottom and trailing off as it rises higher, or it can fade and brighten in unexpected places. It can even come from artificial light sources. Always, though, it forms a straight pillar rising up from the light. Two things are needed to form a sun pillar; a strong light source which is close to the ground and a sky full of ice crystals. In a past post on Io9, we've shown how hexagonal ice crystals in the air can bend light, making it appear that there are multiple suns, or sun dogs. Sun pillars happen when the sunlight strikes these crystals from a different angle. Instead of going through the body of the crystal, reflecting off its sides, the light hits the bottom of the crystals and reflects back down to the earth. Instead of escaping upwards into the sky, the sunlight gets reflected back down to earth. From an earthbound person's perspective, the light climbs upwards in a pillar. In reality, we're only seeing it because it got knocked back down to us. __________________ Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. -H. Bergson

10-17-2010, 09:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
msicidron vibing Join Date: May 2007 Location: North America Posts: 959 Thanks: 229 Thanked 157 Times in 122 Posts	jah sun __________________ \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|

10-17-2010, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	The sun. 93 million miles away and it's still too bright to look at. This nuclear fusion thing takes it too far. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

10-31-2010, 12:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	__________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	Atmospheric Optics i can waste hours looking at this website __________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,328 Times in 1,870 Posts	thats really awesome, in the true sense of the word. Thanks for the info __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

11-01-2010, 08:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	word. then you get to see stuff like this which is happening every day. whenever you are standing is a totally unique never-to-be-repeated display just for you. __________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	__________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:32 AM	#13 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	__________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	happening now in an iris near you! moondogs __________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:40 AM	#16 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	__________________ fuck the monkeys

11-01-2010, 08:42 AM	#17 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	moonhalo __________________ fuck the monkeys

11-07-2010, 08:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
Freewilly Dark Angel Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 54 Thanks: 22 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Very interesting

11-07-2010, 08:39 PM	#19 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	same way any source of light creates a pillar __________________ fuck the monkeys

11-07-2010, 08:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
Captain Cannabis safety word: more Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: m.i.a. Posts: 13,922 Thanks: 2,705 Thanked 3,174 Times in 1,812 Posts	__________________ fuck the monkeys

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