Florida: Glorious Sunrises

Golden Sunrise

Palms and Pink Sunrise

Purple Martin Nesting Gourds and Pink Sunrise

We’ve had the most spectacular and glorious sunrises the past week here in Florida.  What a way to start to day!

Florida Skies: Sunrise Clouds and Midnight Rocket

Spectacular Cloud with Rainbow at Sunrise

Close-up of Rainbow Cloud

Tall Glowing Tropical Cloud

Rocket Launch After Midnight

We’ve had the most beautiful sights in the sky both day and night this week.  One morning at sunrise we woke up to tall tropical clouds that seemed to glow from within.  One cloud even had a rainbow in it.  After midnight last night we watched a spectacular rocket blastoff.  A Delta 4 rocket successfully launched two satellites into orbit at 12:52 am.  Our 30 second photograph’s unusual effect is the result of light fog and a full moon.  High humidity made the roar of blastoff over 60 miles away quite loud and long.  Since light travels faster than sound, we saw the liftoff before we heard it.  

Florida: Spectacular Sunset!

Florida Sunset Pink Sky

Florida Sunset Orange Sky

Our sunset last night was spectacular! Here in Florida we get the best sunsets after stormy weather. Afterward the frogs were busy croaking all night.

Florida: Spectacular Sunrise and Hole Punch Clouds

Spectacular Florida Sunrise

Purple Martin Gourds and Sunrise

Hole Punch Clouds and Airplane Trail

National Weather Service Satellite View and Explanation of Hole Punch Clouds

We had a spectacular sunrise here in Florida yesterday – the colors were amazing!  The peak only lasted a few minutes.  There were also “hole punch” clouds in the sky.  They form when an airplane passes through a supercooled cloud layer. Since the cloud’s water droplets are chilled even more by passing over the wings, the droplets freeze into ice and fall out of the sky (thus leaving a hole if the plane punched through the cloud layer, or a trail/tunnel if it flew through it).

Florida: Favorite Sunsets 2011

Florida Tropical Sunset

Sunset and Dramatic Clouds

Pink Sunset over Pond

Sunsets in Florida can be spectacular, particularly after a dramatic thunderstorm!  These are our favorite Florida sunsets from 2011. 

Florida: Sunrise on the Indian River

Dawn on the Indian River, Florida

Palm Tree and Rising Sun

Sunrises are so beautiful in Florida.  Add a soft warm breeze and birds singing for a perfect moment in time.