Optical Phenomena
Cloud Iridescence |
![]() Mt. Wilson Observatory, California. Copyright ©2000 C. Gino |
| Cloud iridescence occurs when sunlight is diffracted by uniformly-sized water droplets in mid-level, thin clouds (in the example above, altocumulus clouds). |
| Below is a more unusual example. Two small patches of clouds (in the box) quite a distance from the rising sun were illuminated by the sun. While the closeup below doesn't show the blues and greens, those colors were present as well. |
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![]() Magdalena, New Mexico. Copyright ©2000 C. Gino |
| A few more typical examples. |
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![]() Very Large Array, New Mexico. Copyright ©2000 C. Gino |
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| Last updated 01/23/01 | Copyright © 2000 C. Gino. |