Sonic Boom Meets Sun Dog

A sun dog or parhelion is a bright rainbow effect in the sky caused by refraction of sunlight through ice crystals. Video from Kennedy Space Center Apollo Center February 11, 2010. Launch of Solar Dynamics Observatory on an Atlas V rocket. About 1 minute 14 seconds after liftoff the vehicle went supersonic. The shock wave obliterated a sun dog. It was really beautiful, and poetic for this mission.

In this video the magic happens at around 1:51.

Sun Dog – A sun dog is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.

Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright. Sundogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low.

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5 comments

  • Bon Buin 14 years ago

    Nice boom:)

  • Lily 14 years ago

    So Awesome. I was in disbelief.

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