Sundog Over Basingstoke?

[Stargazer]

Noticed this 'mini-rainbow' effect almost overhead, directly above the sun (see attached picture, taken with a camera phone). Is this a faint sundog?

[Phil UK]

Not a sundog but a Circumzenithal Arc.

Given some of the high cloud structures I've seen today, I'm not surprised that someone somewhere has managed to spot one.

Phil.

[Stargazer]

Thanks, Phil - that's a new one to me.

Just done the inevitable Wikipedia search - apparently circumzenithal arcs are at their brightest when the sun is 22 degrees above the horizon - so around the middle of the day on a day with lots of high cloud at this time of year is an ideal time to see them.

Edited October 30, 2009 by Stargazer

[Phil UK]

Now this is a Sundog below...

Taken at around 10:00am this morning. Close up included and an added bonus of a shadow caused by a contrail.

Phil.

Edited November 12, 2009 by Phil UK