Full-Moon Dog

Moon dogs are the paler version of sun dogs: bursts of light often in reds and blues that appear on both sides of the moon. Both phenomena are the work of almost invisible clouds that reside in the atmosphere where commercial airliners cruise, at about 30,000 feet. The clouds are composed largely of ice crystals, known as diamond dust. The official name for a moon dog is a paraselene if seen at 22 degrees. If the image is at 90, 120 or 140 degrees then it's known as a parantiselene. Thanks to Jim Bell for the moon dog photo !!! Visit Jim's Homepage for more great photographs. Paraselenae (Moon Dogs) Parhelia (sun Dogs) Ice Halos Atmospheric hallucinogens Moonlight refracted through hexagonal ice crystals. The lunar presence low in the night sky Narratives of Polar exploration The circumzenithal arc, paraselenic circle paraselenae, geometrical features. "Moon South-east by South, 23-degrees altitude, radius of 27 degrees, bright semi-circular halo resting upon a "mock moon". Above, an inverted arch, bright point of intersection."

c. 2009 Rita Rosenfeld

Parhelia (Sun Dog)