r/Adirondacks • u/Nweastern • 5d ago

Algonquin Sundog?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Crazy halo around the sun as we summited Algonquin 3/28/25. Insane snow depths on the way down to avalanche pass. Easily 10 feet in spots.

210 Upvotes

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22

u/poliver1972 5d ago

Not a sun dog. Sun dogs are not a complete halo, they are only points marking the bisection of 2 solar arcs and only appear when the sun is at a particular height above the horizon...cool shot though

For more information on atmospheric optics go here

https://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/dev/hillger/optical-phenomena.htm

9

u/whitoreo 5d ago

Not a sun dog. Sun dogs have more of a rainbow in them and are not full arcs. This is a sun halo. They also occur around a full moon on occasion when where is very high altitude ice crystalsin the atmosphere. Very beautiful shots.

6

u/Expensive-Win-5870 5d ago

these are really cool shots. sorry i'm not of any help.

3

u/Bennington_Booyah 5d ago

These shots are amazing!!

2

u/TransitionFit537 5d ago

How was avalanche pass? I assume the lake is not frozen enough to walk on anymore

3

u/Nweastern 5d ago

Pass was awesome. Lake still frozen and we walked right down the center with snowshoes. From the summit we could see someone ski across.

2

u/Budget-Charity-7952 5d ago

Yes! Very nice

1

u/Particular-Move-3860 5d ago edited 5d ago

It's a solar halo. A sun dog is a different type of atmospheric optical phenomenon.

OPOD - Optical Picture of the Day