4/1/2004: Unusual rainbow-cloud

Undertoad · 04-01-2004, 11:04 AM

Copyright and permission Andy Freed, this shot is a pretty rare phenomenon. Discussed on the Earth Sci Pic of the Day and on Mr. Freed's own site entry. It turns out this is "probably a portion of a circumhorizontal arc" which is "a halo phenomenon -- formed by ice crystals usually in cirrus type clouds" and "usually only observed during mid-day in the late spring and summer months (in the mid latitudes) when the Sun attains an elevation greater than about 58 degrees above the horizon."

Pretty cool.

Pie · 04-01-2004, 11:47 AM

Here's another site with a bunch of really unbelievable solar/atmospheric effects.

Here's the description of one of my favorites:

The Specter of the Brocken. Effect at the anti-solar point where my shadow was cast into the fog which itself backscattered a glory diffraction pattern. You can see my head, arms and legs in the shadow!

e unibus plurum · 04-01-2004, 01:28 PM

1) aka 'sun dog'
2) aka 'glory'

jaguar · 04-01-2004, 01:47 PM

aka very shitty jpeg artifacting on that second pic.

lumberjim · 04-01-2004, 02:37 PM

PIE, I think I see the virgin mary in that pic!

Pie · 04-01-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jaguar
aka very shitty jpeg artifacting on that second pic.

Nope. It's the real deal -- backscattered light off of fog. The guy's image in the center is similar to anticrepuscular rays, tracing back from the source of light.

Google search for "Specter of the Brocken" to get a zillion other pics.

UT's pic really is a circumhorizontal arc.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

- Pie

xoxoxoBruce · 04-01-2004, 07:59 PM

Looks like the genie escaping the bottle.

Lady Sidhe · 04-23-2004, 01:14 AM

As to the first picture, we see these all the time in Louisiana. Doesn't change the fact that they're gorgeous, though.

04-01-2004, 11:04 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	4/1/2004: Unusual rainbow-cloud Copyright and permission Andy Freed, this shot is a pretty rare phenomenon. Discussed on the Earth Sci Pic of the Day and on Mr. Freed's own site entry. It turns out this is "probably a portion of a circumhorizontal arc" which is "a halo phenomenon -- formed by ice crystals usually in cirrus type clouds" and "usually only observed during mid-day in the late spring and summer months (in the mid latitudes) when the Sun attains an elevation greater than about 58 degrees above the horizon." Pretty cool.

04-01-2004, 11:47 AM	#2
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Here's another site with a bunch of really unbelievable solar/atmospheric effects. Here's the description of one of my favorites: The Specter of the Brocken. Effect at the anti-solar point where my shadow was cast into the fog which itself backscattered a glory diffraction pattern. You can see my head, arms and legs in the shadow! Attached Images __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

04-01-2004, 01:28 PM	#3
e unibus plurum garbage in, refuse out Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 98	1) aka 'sun dog' 2) aka 'glory' __________________ //VTR.FT10F001 DD DATA

04-01-2004, 01:47 PM	#4
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	aka very shitty jpeg artifacting on that second pic. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

04-01-2004, 02:37 PM	#5
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	PIE, I think I see the virgin mary in that pic! __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

04-01-2004, 07:59 PM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Looks like the genie escaping the bottle. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-23-2004, 01:14 AM	#8
Lady Sidhe That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.... Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hammond, La. Posts: 978	As to the first picture, we see these all the time in Louisiana. Doesn't change the fact that they're gorgeous, though. __________________ My free will...I never leave home without it. --House Someday I want to be rich. Some people get so rich they lose all respect for humanity. That's how rich I want to be. -Rita Rudner

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)