Spectre of the Brocken

I do love my job. Flying has been a passion of mine since I can remember. Although the political crap that goes along with any job can ruin things, actually going out and doing my job makes it worthwhile.


This photo illustrates several atmospheric phenomena--the Spectre of the Brocken, a glory, and heiligenschein (holy light.) I took this one early morning descending into Lander, WY. I'd noticed this opportunity "leading" us and was lucky enough to have my camera out and ready.





The Spectre is simply your shadow projected on the cloud below. The glory, which is the rainbow, are always directly opposite the sun, centered at the antisolar point and therefore below the horizon except at sunrise and sunset. They are formed when light is scattered backwards by individual water droplets. Heiligenschein, or holy light, is the bright glow in the very center. The glow is centered on the antisolar point--so if you look closely you can tell (by looking at the very center of the glow) that I was sitting in the right seat. That particular day I was training one of our First Officers to be a Captain--so he was flying left seat.


This photo is the only one I've had published so far--in Tim Herd's Kaleidoscope Sky --thanks, Mr. Herd! It's a very interesting and informative book on atmospheric phenomena....