Isaw a rainbow around the sun and theres a black thing in the middle of the sun, whats that?

Question

yesterday june 29,2008 around 12 noon, we saw a rainbow around the sun. it was dark around the sun and theres a big rainbow in the edge. we took pictures and videos and when we check them , we noticed that theres a black spot in the middle of the sun. can someone explain this thing?

Answer 1

You saw a parhelion (also known as a "sun dog").  

Parhelion's can look like rainbow's around the sun.  They can look like there's a second sun in the sky, or even a third (one on each side of the 'real' sun).  

Other phenomenon that are related are circumzenithal arcs, parhelic circles, and 22 degree halos.  

These phenomenon are caused by light either refracting or reflecting off of or through high clouds and ice crystals in the atmosphere.

Answer 2

Can you please upload those images to the internet so we might get a better view of it. There are plenty free image hosting sites. Post back the link.

BTW from what I understand you didn't notice the black spot when you were looking directly and it only appeared on the images. It might be a matter of the camera.

Answer 3

it is a photographic artifact.....this also happened to me when I took a pic with my cellphone...it looks kinda neat..........