Sun Dogs

I was out with my camera recently, when the sun dogs in this photo appeared. Sun Dogs are formed by the refraction of the sun's rays through a very specific type of ice crystal in the air. These crystals, called plates are hexagonal and quite flat, and slowly settle to the ground, wobbling back and forth somewhat, with the flat sides horizontal. These crystals grow in temperatures between -9 and -20 degrees celsius. They are multi-colored, but the degree to which the rainbow colors are visible depends on the amount of wobbling the ice crystals are doing. The amount of stretch of the sun dogs is caused by the wobble and to a lesser degree by the height of the sun above the horizon. I believe from my own experiences, that sun dogs are more common in areas of low humidity, with bright cold sunny days. I know they rarely happen here in Calgary. This photo was shot at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.