Photo of the week
His Master’s Choice
Friday 08 February 2013
A sun pillar in Val d’Isere, France, captured by St Andrews Master, Professor Neville Richardson.
These rare natural phenomena occur when tiny ice crystals form in the air and fall under gravity. Most of the crystals are aligned horizontally, but some have a small tilt. Those tilted ‘to the right’ focus reflected rays of sunlight on the eye from high in the column. Those tilted ‘to the left’ focus from lower in the column.
Photo of the week
His Master’s Choice
Friday 08 February 2013
A sun pillar in Val d’Isere, France, captured by St Andrews Master, Professor Neville Richardson.
These rare natural phenomena occur when tiny ice crystals form in the air and fall under gravity. Most of the crystals are aligned horizontally, but some have a small tilt. Those tilted ‘to the right’ focus reflected rays of sunlight on the eye from high in the column. Those tilted ‘to the left’ focus from lower in the column.