Sometimes, unexpected things happens. During a quite ordinary Launch of the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO), an important mission to research the Sun, the rocket passed near a sundog when it reached a supersonic speed and broke it apart. Notice the shock-wave created by the rocket. The video was taken by 13 years old Anna Herbst.
Sun dogs are an atmospheric phenomenon which due to ice crystals in the clouds creates a bright image on both sides of the Sun (Hence the terms dog). It is not often visible from Israel since it is regularly not cold enough here, but If you observe carefully you will see them from time to time.
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| SDO has a close encounter with a sundog. Movie formats: 10 MB Quicktime, 1 MB mpeg-4. Credit: Anna Herbst of Bishop, California. |
Another video showing the entire launch and the shock-wave: