By The Way...

Monday, November 14, 2005
8:25:00 AM EST
Hearing Diamond Dogs -- David Bowie
On the way to Athena's school this morning, she and I saw a spectacular "sun dog," which is a rainbow-like bright spot off to the side of the sun, caused by the refraction of light through ice crystals in very high clouds. By the time I got home and grabbed my camera, it was almost gone -- what you're seeing here is the tail of the sundog, as it were. Nevertheless you can see the prisming effect pretty clearly. And Athena loved the cloud; she declared that spotting the rainbow sun dog was a "life moment," which is a rather surprising thing for a six-year-old to say. But I have to say I've come to expect surprising things from Athena in this regard.

One of the things that I'm very happy for is the fact I've reached the point in my life where I both know why most things happen (in a scientific sense) and I have a child who is curious enough to want to know why things happen. Seeing a rainbow cloud with your child is a wonderful enough experience. But being able to explain to her how the rainbow cloud is happening, and having her understand it, makes it a richer experience for both of us. Knowing the science adds to the wonder, and I'm glad to be able to have both with my kid.


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This entry has 10 comments: (Add your own)

• #10 Comment from blazi0n26
  6/9/07 12:12 AM | Permalink

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• #9 Comment from lurkynat
  11/15/05 9:27 PM | Permalink

  John what an interesting term! I never heard of it! you and Krissy are such wonderful parents!
  nat
• #8 Comment from jlocorriere05
  11/14/05 4:56 PM | Permalink

  I've seen sun dogs before but never knew what they were called. I love anything to do with the sky and astronomy, fascinating stuff!! Jeannette. http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels
• #7 Comment from joolsinwa
  11/14/05 1:40 PM | Permalink

  se now , you could homeschool her
• #6 Comment from madcobug
  11/14/05 11:54 AM | Permalink

  I think sundogs are very pretty. Next thing to a rainbow. Good shot of it. Helen

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