[thedoc (OP)]

Ed Wilson  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
A few weeks ago I saw a strange coloured patch in a thin cloud well up in the sky.  Since I was travelling in a car at the time, and passing between buildings, it was difficult to see what was going on.  Finally it became clear that it was level with the sun, and that there was another, weaker patch at the corresponding place on the other side.

There was hazy cloud across the sky but a thin but more substantial patch at an altitude which appeared at that moment, from my position on the ground, to be at the same height as the sun.  And I seemed to be seeing a slice through a very small ring rainbow which would never "touch the ground".

Is my analysis right, and is this kind of thing observed often?

Ed

What do you think?

[RD]

Sundog ? ... http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/parhelia.htm
[ which may be accompanied by a "circumzenithal arc" ...  http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/cza.htm ]

[Pecos_Bill]

In order to see sun dogs, I believe that you must be somewhere near the latitude of the marge of lake lebarge where Sam McGee was cremated.

Did it look like this?

[jadinet]

I've heard of sun dogs, which could be what you described. Have a quick google search and let us know

[Pecos_Bill]

Sorry, I'm planning on taking my British made ICE "Adventure" recumbent touring trike out for a spin before the sun starts hammering us today.  Or maybe I'll go shopping at Walmart. If I call it my wheelchair, they have to let me ride up and down the aisles you know.

Why don't you google it yourself, GI? It's good training.