GEOGRAPHY Part III

The day was known to ancient astronomers as one where the Sun appeared to stop

still since it was during this time of year that the Sun seems to be at either its highest or lowest

position in the sky for the year.

• Solstice.

• Winter solstice

The two times of year when the Sun's path in the sky is farthest south in the

Northern Hemisphere (December 21 or 22) and furthest north in the Southern Hemisphere (June

20 or 21) are known as the hibernal solstice.

• Winter solstice

• Summer solstice

the two times of year (June 20 or 21 or December 21 or 22) when the Sun's

path in the sky is farthest north in the Northern Hemisphere or furthest south in the Southern

Hemisphere. Seasonal Earth and Sun configuration

• Winter solstice

• Summer solstice

an occurrence where the subsolar point of a planet crosses over its equator. The only

period when the quantity of sunlight and nightfall in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is

practically equal is during the equinoxes.

• Equinox.

• Summer solstice

seasonal occurrence in which the Sun is still visible at local midnight in regions

north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle.

• Midnight sun

• Equinox.

green ray are meteorological optical phenomena that sometimes occur

transiently around the moment of sunset or sunrise. When the conditions are right, a distinct green

spot is briefly visible above the Sun's upper limb; the green appearance usually lasts for no more

than two seconds.

• Green Flash

• Aurora.

A natural light show in the Earth's sky called an aurora, sometimes known as the polar

lights, northern lights, or southern lights, is most frequently observed in high-latitude areas. The

sky is covered in dynamic patterns of spectacular lights known as auroras that might take the

form of curtains, beams, spirals, or dynamic flickers.

• Aurora.

• Light pillars

are colorful beams of light that shine down from the sky, typically during sunrise.

They are sometimes also referred to as solar pillars or sun pillars. Light pillars occur in colder

climates when light reflects off of ice crystals in the air.

• Halo

• Light pillars

an optical phenomenon produced by light interacting with ice crystals suspended in the

atmosphere. Halos can have many forms, ranging from colored or white rings to arcs and spots

in the sky. Many of these appear near the Sun or Moon, but others occur elsewhere or even in

the opposite part of the sky

• Halo

• Moonbows.

Much like rainbows, these colorful nocturnal arches occur when light (from the moon,

in this case) reflects and refracts off water droplets in the sky. But moonbows are much more rare

than rainbows—the natural phenomenon happens only when the moon is very low, the sky is

dark, and rain is falling opposite the moon.

• Moonbows.

• Cloud iridescence