the sky on fire

14 additions to things that happen in our atmosphere, after previous posts of mine that focused on moondogs, aurora borealis, and upper-atmosphere lightning. Most of these effects are caused by ice crystals in the earth's atmosphere. Some events happen high in the stratosphere and some happen close to the ground. Each of the links provides the source and further information on the photo. I feel like any of these may spur further playing and making in my studio - especially the green flash and sundog (parhelia).

green flash - NASA picture of the day March 21, 2004 (link)

(link to many more)

stages of a green flare (link)
(funny Pirates of the Caribbean link on the green flash at the end of At World's End)

double rainbow, west Iceland (link)

polychromatic cloud- Hidden Dunes, Death Valley National Park (link)

a sundog and it's reflection, Arches N.P. (link)

sundog in Malaysia (link)

parhelia (link)

sun pillar and sundog in Aftenposten, Norway (link)

NASA photo of the day January 23, 2003 - sun pillar in Caledon, Ontario, Canada (link)

light pillars (from street lights) on the University of Waterloo campus, Waterloo, Canada, Feb. 8, 2007 (link)

NASA picture of the day March 5, 2006 - light pillars from an ice skating rink in Fairbanks, Alaska (link)

light pillars from street lights in Sigulda, Latvia on Dec. 20, 2008 (link)

spiral over Norway caused by a failed Russian missile test on Dec. 9, 2009 (link)

supposed UFO over Phoenix, USA (link)