They are beautiful and surprisingly bright.

I think I was probably just not looking for them. Yep, bright as hell.

These are not the first sun dogs to be seen in the Detroit Area. Get a grip. They are seen many times.
The pics you posted are really beautiful. Have seen them many times over the years.

It’s so nice to read about appreciation of the wonders of our beautiful planet whether one has seen them or not. 🌎

amazing

That a nice set in your pictures. Very well formed.

but always in the winter; usually when it's well below zero. I was surprised to read they occur in any season.

I also live in Iowa and also have seen them many times, but like you only during some serious cold.
Haven't seen one for a couple of years.

It was 8 above zero. That's the warmest I've ever seen them. Of course the wind chill was below zero.

but I don't feel like going out to look.

There are astronomers who believe that it was a sun dog Constantine the Great saw when he had his vision of victory over the legions of Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge.

History says Constantine saw a cross in the sky and heard the words 'in hoc signo vinces' - "By this sign, conquer." That is reputedly when he converted to Christianity, and ordered his troops to paint the XP 'Chi-Rho' symbol on their shields.

Also, did I hear some kid say a hearty "fuck you" in the background, or was that just me hearing things?!

I tried listening to the other things and couldn't decide if it was English or not...

But where I grew up, that kid woud have some explaining to do. I remember being at my mom's house and my brother-in-law suddenly leaving the kitchen and heading toward his boys, who were playing with my mom's Hammond organ. It can get very loud if you crank it. When he came back, we asked what happened. He said that the oldest had told the others to turn that fucking thing down. He said he felt bad giving him a punishment because he owned up to it, he told where he had heard it, and he had used it correctly.

For many years

So many, many times!

Watch from my couch.

I have stayed outside moose hunting by Kotzebue moose hunting

Up to Ester or Murphy Dome...………. costs too much in gas to keep the engine running, but the hood and space blankets help!

I LOVE Kotzebue!

Gorgeous place to freeze your butt off!

Out on the Pacific.

I lived in Alaska for many years and saw sun dogs often when we lived in Fairbanks.

Never tired of watching the northern light dancing across the sky, The best show I ever saw was in Delta Junction, the lights were yellow green and pink, like curtains moving in the wind. The only bad thing was it was about 50 below zero with a brisk wind blowing. I could stay outside a few minutes , then come in to get warmed up and go back out. That is night I will never forget. Best display I ever saw.

One time when we lived in Fairbanks, the northern lights were like spot lights shinning in the sky, only saw this the one time.

And during heavy rain/fog in summer. Some of the ones you posted were taken way up here.

They are most commonly seen on cold, partly sunny winter days when there are ice crystals in the air.

I lived at 7,000ft elev. for a long time and when it gets around -20F and colder, they will complete the circle all the way around the sun and sometimes the cardinal points will have spikes and then sometimes - it gets better they can begin to mirror above the circle around the sun! It looks like the Taurus glyph (symbol for Taurus) made of rainbows, I caught a couple pictures of that but I'd have to go dinging for them and then start up a photobucket account.

They are hard to photograph, you done good!

On a ski trek to remote hot springs very high on We. Magical beyond description.
Full circle quad.

They are kinda bright and I get migraines.

Never really got to see the northern lights. (Well I did, but they were white and not very impressive from where I lived)