Lower Sun Pillar

Although Sun pillars are usually seen above the Sun, under the right conditions they can also be seen below. On January 6, 2024 the disk of the Sun was obscured by a narrow band of cloud which rendered the lower Sun pillar more easily visible. In this case sunlight is being reflected off the top tiny ice crystals suspended in the air. At the pillar's base, the light is reflected off the ice in Flagstaff Lake.