Two suns on the Nullarbor, Western Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326862)
Rockingham, Australia
August 28, 2018 2:53am CST
Writing about a solar cooking device for my last discussion reminded me of the fantastic photo Vince captured on our way across the Nullarbor about a month ago. We had camped off the road under some trees and Vince was taking sunset photos when the sun seemed to split into two.
He was so lucky to capture this. From what I’ve read some kind of refraction of the sun (or moon) on the earth’s surface causes the double image. The most likely cause seems to be cold air creating tiny crystals of ice which distort the sun’s rays. It typically occurs when the sun or moon is at a low point in the sky.
It’s pretty spekky (spectacular). It almost looks like giant headlights.
38 people like this
41 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
28 Aug 18
@JudyEv Surely it looks great, Ms. Judy :)
3 people like this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
29 Aug 18
Grabbing rare happenings is what a keen, avid, alert photographer gets.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
29 Aug 18
@JudyEv Atleast he is awake at sunset (lol)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 18
@allknowing I also tell him he is not a 'real' golfer as he won't play if it is raining or too hot. 
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
28 Aug 18
Now that's really amazing. Something that I wouldn't see in this country.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
29 Aug 18
@JudyEv From what your discussion said it cannot happen often. But that phenomena from your explanation can never happen in my country I think. The most likely cause as you stated is teh cold air creating crystals of ice..which can never happen here,
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 18
@toniganzon The cold air is nowhere near the ground but high in the atmosphere which makes me think it could happen anywhere.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
28 Aug 18
I like Spekky. I might have to use it.
Nice photo. Vince should put out a calendar :-)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 18
@FayeHazel We used to make one for my elderly mum for a few years too - of things that were near and dear to her. It wasn't very expensive as gifts go but she liked them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Aug 18
That's a good idea. We've done calendars through a website but only with photos that relate to the recipient. We minded a garden once for several weeks and took the opportunity to take lots of photos of their flowers then made a calendar for them.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
29 Aug 18
@JudyEv What a fantastic, and thoughtful gift
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118827)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Aug 18
Vince happened to be in the right place at the right time, and captured a great photo!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118827)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Aug 18
@JudyEv I've heard of the phenomenon, but I've never witnessed it personally. I did hear that it is pretty rare, and the conditions have to be just right!
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
28 Aug 18
How cool is that @JudyEv . That was my first thought too was giant headlights.
2 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
28 Aug 18
Wow what a shot- maybe you travelled to another planet without realizing---looks a bit weird and spacey-- Twilight Zonish too!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 18
@MarymargII I'll send him out in the middle of the night to check. 
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
29 Aug 18
@JudyEv Ha! Yes- Or a different world on Star Trek, or whatever. Great shot though. He should try the moon next--lol!
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
28 Aug 18
Wow! That is phenomenal! So lucky of him to capture this optical illusion. 
2 people like this
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
28 Aug 18
Nice shot. If there were UFOlogist around they would speculate that would be the sun of Planet Niburu you're seeing. Lots are doing this theory that our sun has a twin star that has its own planetary system and every so and so these twin star tries to be near our sun and the planet Niburu would interfere with our planets gravitational pull and so so... Anyway this are just conspiracy theories that circulate around the net.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
28 Aug 18
Oh, that is amazing, I have never seen that before. I will have to be more aware of sunsets, I hope to see this in person.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
29 Aug 18
@JudyEv 
I know people like that... That one is amazing too, I love sunrise and sunset pictures, it's like a window into heaven.
I know people like that... That one is amazing too, I love sunrise and sunset pictures, it's like a window into heaven.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
@Carmelanirel2 I think you get the best sunset shots when there is some cloud around. If the sky is clear the shots can still be great but not so dramatic as when there are clouds.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 18
@MALUSE I'm sorry Malu but after 4 posts tagged with 'Nullarbor' and 5 more tagged with 'Nullarbor Plain' I thought readers might have known what it was by now. I seem to have done a lot of talking about driving on it, crossing on it, etc. If you've only read the one discussion I guess you may not know what it was. I'll put it in full in future.
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Aug 18
The Nullarbor is the treeless plain dividing West and South Australia.
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
28 Aug 18
Ahhh, the sun is taking a last peek at the Earth. Definitely a spekky photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 18
@Namelesss Thanks. He was lucky to capture it.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
29 Aug 18
@JudyEv Vince is Awesome! Just saying, photos like that are rare. :-)
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (6059)
• India
28 Aug 18
wow!! it's smoking hot..with two suns, there was cold air??
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326862)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 18
@anya12adwi No, it's as I said in the post - just something that happens occasionally.
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (6059)
• India
30 Aug 18
@JudyEv Ow oo.. Can that be a planet that seemed like a sun??
1 person likes this
