Sun dog amid record-setting cold in Denver

A sun dog appears soon after sunrise on a record-setting cold morning in Denver. (© Tony's Takes)
A sun dog appears soon after sunrise on a record-setting cold morning in Denver. (© Tony’s Takes)

Oops! Somehow I forgot to share this one.

Late last month, Colorado saw itself experiencing a deep freeze. On the morning of the 22nd, temperatures dipped to 15 degrees below zero with wind chills far below that – absolutely brutal cold. As the sun rose over the horizon that morning, a very cool sun dog appeared to the east. I missed the best of the show but was able to catch the tail end of it before it disappeared.

Sun dogs are caused by the refraction of light by ice crystals and appear 22 degrees to each side of the sun. I have had a few chances to grab pics of one, always on the coldest of mornings.

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