Sunsets & Sunrises in 2002

Once the sun began to set, cumulus quickly melted away, and left behind a high veil of cirrus and middle level clouds, as can be seen here streaking across the sun.

The sun began taking on a "pear-shaped" form, as an inverted sun pillar began illuminating the cirrus below the sun's disk. It was more apparent in person and isn't as clear on this image.

The last breath, before the sun went below the distant mountain. I particularly like the shadow cast by my neighbour's chimney, and the sun capped by cloud :-).

Early January, 2002. The setting sun makes a surreal combination with static lenticular clouds, formed over Snowdonia. This pic is taken looking towards Anglesey from Llandudno.

The same sunset but this time looking southwest, and no less dramaticm with some weird and wonderful cloud formations. The distant mountains of Snowdonia have a dusting of snow of them.

An evening in late May 2002, and high cirrus formations over Berkshire combine with middle level blankets of cloud to produce this fantastically detailed sunset.

A close up of the clouds in the previous sunset. The variation in the cloud type here is vast, including the whisps, or characteristic "mare's tails" of cirrus, to the banks of low altocumulus cloud, from decaying showers.

An unexpected, striking sunset in May 2002. The entire day was overcast with spells of heavy rain. Just as the day gave its last gasp of light, the skies cleared to the west displaying a "lazer-like" sliver of red sky.

A zoomed in image of the last sunset, with a defined back edge to the day's cold frontal cloud. The town-scape of Reading contrasts wonderfully with the deep orange sunset.

Early June 2002, and a fairly weak sunset is nevertheless very impressive, as the gaude shading of blue sky quickly blends into orange and yellow. The contrail pictured also gains depth from the angle of the sun's rays.

 

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