Ice Pillars over Atlanta 445AM Dec 28th 2013

 

I was out walking the dog on the morning of Dec 28th, 2013 when I looked up and saw these incredible rainbowed streaks emanating from a central point right above my home in downrtown Atlanta. Apparantly, these are called Ice pillars and were formed by ground based lights shining through almost horizontal ice crystals at around 10,000 feet MSL and then being refracted onto the background sky above my head. Very strange indeed. The first image shows the "scientific" explanation.

I am the director of the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project in Atlanta, a science nonprofit. more info at www.solarastronomy.org

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Stephen W. Ramsden