Sky Scenes

Clouds of Color

(Image credit: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

An example of various cloud colors.

Over the Rainbow

(Image credit: NOAA Photo Library)

Stunning photo of a rainbow with a reflection over an Oklahoma Wheatfield.

Moon Halo

(Image credit: NOAA Photo Library)

Shown above is a picture of a halo, which appears behind the roof of the house.

Reflections

(Image credit: NOAA Photo Library)

The picture shows a moonrise on Hobart Bay reflecting off the water.

Sundogs

(Image credit: Don Brown, Utah Skies)

This beautiful picture was captured at sunrise on a cold and still Park City morning. Called sundogs, this phenomenon is caused by sunlight being refracted through ice crystals. Taken by Don Brown with an Olympus OM1 and a 28mm lens, this image shows two parhelia on each side of the sun and one just visible at the top of the image. The ice crystals must be preferentially oriented horizontally and the sun-observer line of sight must be close to horizontal in order to see such a site.

Crepuscular Rays

(Image credit: Antandrus)

The rays appear to diverge, but this is an illusion of perspective: they are actually parallel. The cause of crepuscular rays in this case is a combination of the sun rising over distant mountains, water vapor in the air independent of the clouds, and the clouds themselves.

Sun Pillar Over Virginia

(Image credit: NOAA Photo Library/Janet Ward)

A sun pillar observed near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia at about 6:00 P. M., in March 2001. This pillar was visible in Silver Spring, Maryland, about 50 miles to the southeast at approximately the same time.

Meteor and Star Trails

(Image credit: Joe Klein)

A meteor can create bright displays visible from miles around through the energy released as it slams into Earth's atmosphere. Joe Klein, a professional photographer and amateur astrophotographer, took this picture in September 2001, from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, outside of San Diego.

Eclipsed!

(Image credit: Matt Wood and Randall Perrine/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF)

The Partial Solar Eclipse of June 10th, 2002 as viewed from Kitt Peak.

Aurora Australis

(Image credit: NOAA Photo Library/ John Bortniak)

Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps took this photo of an aurora over Antarctica, South Pole Station.

Space Weather

(Image credit: Collection of Dr. Herbert Kroehl, NGDC. Available in the NOAA Photo Library.)

Aurora borealis in vicinity of Anchorage.

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