Cool Goings-On in the Sky and on the Sea

sundog: 1. a parhelion. 2. a small or incomplete rainbow.

parhelion: a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands. Also called sundog.

We saw this sundog when we were in George Town on New Year’s Day. We actually wouldn’t have known what it was, but someone was kind enough to announce it on the VHF radio. It’s not a great photo of it, but you can see the arc off to the left of the sun.

Also in George Town Harbour on New Year’s Day, we watched local boats racing. This one was particularly pretty, painted bright yellow. The booms on these boats are longer than the boats themselves, which allows them great sail area, and these boats really scoot. Beyond and to the left of the boat you can see the cut into Lake Victoria. The cut is actually a cut through the stone, perhaps ten feet wide, with a bridge built over the top. You dinghy through the cut to get to the dinghy dock. Coming back out is a (wet) adventure when the tide is ebbing against the wind!