Notebook
Sky phenomena
Optical effects made by ice, droplets and the angle of the sun. None of them is rare; all of them are missed by people who do not look.
Halos
22° halo
A pale ring around the sun, red on the inside, made by sunlight bending through ice crystals.
Sun dogs
Sun dogs
Two bright, often coloured spots either side of a low sun, at the same height as it.
Glories
Glories
Small coloured rings around the shadow of your head, seen from a hilltop above fog or an aircraft window.
Noctilucent
Noctilucent clouds
Electric-blue, rippled clouds shining in a dark summer sky, far higher than any weather.