A rare Sun Pillar.

Rarer than a green flash, a Sun Pillar appeared on January 24th and several coastal residents got a photo of the phenomenon. Richard Hansen took the first photo photo - a spectacular Sun Pillar.

 And Jan Jewell got this beautiful photo the same evening.

A Sun Pillar occurs when light from the sun is reflected off thin ice crystal clouds high in the atmosphere in a spot or band pattern vertically above the setting sun,an amazing event to experience.

Thanks to Richard and Jan for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see my only photo of a Sun Pillar, also called a Sun Dog, here is the link:
http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-beautiful-sun-pillar-appeared-at.html