Northern New England’s Museum of Natural History
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium inspires appreciation for our place in the natural world and motivates our stewardship of a healthy planet.
 Fruit Tree Pruning and Grafting Workshop Saturday, February 27, 2010 Click here for more information
| Join local fruit tree expert Todd Parlo in an exploration of the culture and cultivation of fruit trees suited to our climate. To register, or call 802-748-2372
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Send us your question
This morning there was a bright orange beam going straight up from the horizon where the sun would rise in a minute or two. I've heard of this, but never seen it before, what is it called?
Chris Bouchard responds:
What you are describing sounds like what is called a "sun pillar."
Above is a photo I took of a sun pillar. Did what you see look similar?
Sun pillars are typically caused by light reflecting off very light snow falling from a cloud above. If the snow is falling from clouds at high altitudes, it can actually pick up direct sunlight before the sun is visible at the surface. This light is then reflected downward, causing the sun pillar effect.
It's a rather uncommon phenomenon!
Feel free to send us some pictures, we always love those!
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Visit our newest exhibits -- Wild New England: photographs by Roger Irwin and Sound Waves: Many Shapes of Music.
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| Have you seen rusty red Mars gleaming in the East after sunset? Look for a bright orange "star" that refuses to twinkle: It's now passing
through Cancer, the Crab.
Start your tour of the cosmos with a visit to Vermont's only public planetarium, or check Mark Breen's Skywatch Almanac.
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| Become a Weather Wizard! Find out about taming temperatures, registering rainfall, and handling the humidity with our own Meteorologist Mark Breen on April 24 Click here for more information! |  |
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Open Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
(Open Mondays, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., April - October)
Planetarium Presentations (50 minutes):
Saturday & Sunday, 1:30 PM
Admissions | Directions
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