Seasons and sky
Sun Pillar
Direct answer
Sun Pillar: A Sun Pillar is a vertical column of light above or below a low Sun, produced mainly by reflection from horizontally oriented ice crystals.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Related
- Anticrepuscular Rays, 22-Degree Halo, Astronomical Season, Equinox
A Sun Pillar is a vertical low-Sun reflection from plate-like ice crystals.
A Sun-Earth orientation for seasonal, atmospheric, tidal, and terrestrial terms.
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The story behind Sun Pillar
Systematic halo observation linked pillars with plate-crystal orientation and the geometry of reflected sunlight.
Why Sun Pillar matters
Sun Pillar identifies an ice-crystal display that differs from a beam physically rising from the Sun.
Sun Pillar in practice: an example
A reddish column can remain above the horizon after the solar disk has set.
Where readings of Sun Pillar go wrong
The usual misreading is to stare at the low Sun, and do not confuse a pillar with a spotlight beam or vertical cloud gap.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- National Weather Service: Atmospheric Optics - NWS science reference for halos, pillars, sundogs, green flashes, rays, and related optical displays.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Identify the ice-crystal column
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Common questions
What is a Sun Pillar?
A Sun Pillar is a vertical column of light above or below a low Sun, produced mainly by reflection from horizontally oriented ice crystals.
What do people get wrong about a Sun Pillar?
The usual misreading is to stare at the low Sun, and do not confuse a pillar with a spotlight beam or vertical cloud gap.
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