So I did google "sundog" and there were some images that looked like fire rainbows too. Maybe it's just a side-effect of an actual sundog, and people confuse the two?
 
Isn't this stunning???
 

Earliest sunsets around December 8, not at winter solstice

The 2011 solstice comes on December 21 or 22, depending on your time zone. But the earliest sunsets for middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere are happening around now. (more here)

túrána hott kurdís by hasta la otra méxico! from Till Credner on Vimeo.

A sky retrospective. A larger version may be viewed at Astronomy Picture of the Day (for 31 Dec 2008).

ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Totally socked in tonight, but even if it weren't, I went to church at the brewery tonight, so I'm not sure I could stay awake long enough to enjoy them anyway.  But last night I was fishing on Mom's pond and caught some nice ones with long glowing tails - not the fish, that would be weird.    Between Sunday night and Monday morning, I did catch 12 bass, so my fridge is full!

 rosedraws wrote: 
Ugh! That stinks!  I've been sleeping on the futon outside, and, these nights have been full of wishing and I feel like all my dreams are actualizing.  Arrogant? maybe, but it just feels like that, still waiting for the Manbird anti-optimism to rear its head......but these showers are good fun, anyway!

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 
Yay!  It's normally an important annual event for us, with pleasant hangin' around on the roof talking and laughing. 

Nothin' but clouds this year.  day after day after day.  and nights too. 

 BlueHeronDruid wrote: 
Happy Birthday, Hobbitt! Bet you thought you'd get to sleep in

ScottFromWyoming wrote:
We say we're gonna get up on hobbitt's something-something birthday and see them tomorrow morning. That's what we say.

Tonight's the best night in the western US anyway, for catching some Perseids. Unfortunately, the large moon will interfere with viewing somewhat, until it sets at 2 or 3 a.m., but in my experience, in past years the best viewing's always been that late anyway. I'm in the yard now, think I'll close the lid on this computer and see what I see.

There is a total eclipse of the sun this Friday, 1 August 2008, across much of eastern Asia. A partial eclipse will be visible from many more locations. Unfortunately, the Americas will almost completely miss is.

Details are here.

Remember what your ma told you: Don't look at it!
From Europe:



From North America:


Ugh.... depressing for us American skywatchers...

From Asia, where the real action is -



And the planet from above -