A sun pillar, (or solar pillar) is a vertical shaft of light extending upward or downward from the sun and is usually seen at sunglow and/or suntouch. Sun pillars form when sunlight reflects off the surfaces of falling ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds, such as cirrostratus clouds.

The falling ice crystals are hexagonal plate-like in shape and fall with a horizontal orientation, gently rocking from side to side as they fall. When the sun is low on the horizon, an area of brightness appears in the sky above (or below) the sun as sunlight is reflected off the surfaces of these ice crystals.

Look for sun pillars when the sun is low on the horizon, and cirrus clouds are present.

The light can come from the Sun or it can come from the Moon or from terrestrial sources such as street lights.

Although the winter is the best time to see halos, including sun pillars, they can be seen year round.

While watching the sun set from my campsite in the state park, I notice that when the sun touch ends, that there is a strange beam of light focusing upward. I do not recognize what it is at first but comment to the two in the campsite next to me that it is an amazing display of light.

Later, when I am cropping photos, I see what this amazing display of light actually is, a sun pillar.

Upon leaving Laredo, I drive south on US 83 to Falcon Lake county park, find a place to park the jammer. At sunset, I get out my camera to photograph the colors and tonight see a rare Sunpillar.

Afterwards, I climb into the back of the jammer to read in the Bible before closing my eyes.

At the end of a long day of driving across the top of Texas and north by west into New Mexico I have a nice colorful display at sunset.