More Atmospheric Bliss

www.ukweatherworld.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21034

May 17th

from 19.45 local time until sunset i noticed more atmospheric phenomena over Maghera this evening after the thicker cloud and showers passed. As i was walking the dogs i spotted a coloured sundog to the west of the sun low in the western sky. I went home and grabbed my camera when i noticed a mulitcoloured upper tangent arc 22* north of the sun but rather faint. The display intensifyed when a partial 22* solar halo formed connecting to the UTA. Before sunset i spotted another sundog this time east of the sun bobbing and weaving through broken cloud. The highlight was when the western dog grew a nice tail pointing to the north. This was a parhelic arc in the form of a 10* long white straight bar and was very impressive visually but hardly picked up at all on the camera. Below are the images but they are a little faint. I used ISO80...does anyone know if this speed is suitable or should i push it to ISO100 with the risk of overexposing the image?

Amazing, as always!

It's odd. I look for such phenomena regularly but never get to see so much. Specifically I've been looking every day that you've reported but come out of luck. Is it localised?

What camera are you using? I'd keep the ISO as low as possible. No need to introduce noise to such a bright setting.

Well done and thanks for sharing.

Martin,
If you use the an auto exposure mode, then the camera would compensate the shutter speed for whatever "film" speed you select.
Nice arcs and sundogs BTW.

Thanks guys. It is odd as you say and i suspect it is localised however on a day of poor trans with many Cirrus or Cirrostratus clouds in the sky there will be a good chance of seeing such phenomena especially lately where it has been very mild and dry here the trans has degraded for night time observing but great for these subtle ghostly apparitions. I am really getting into these regions and have been having alot of luck lately. I have to say that i have seen more atmospheric phenomena during May than i have in my life! lol

regarding camera...it is a Fujifilm E510 5MP and i used it at ISO80, Auto mode and handheld.

Thanks again guys and keep up the good work!