"Fire" Rainbow (Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon - Picture) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SecretMethod70 · 03-12-2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

A circumhorizontal arc, also known as a fire rainbow, is an optical phenomenon similar in appearance to a rainbow, caused by the refraction of light through the ice crystals in cirrus clouds. It occurs only when the sun is high in the sky, at least 58° above the horizon, and can only occur in cirrus clouds.

The phenomenon is quite rare because the ice crystals must be aligned horizontally (instead of the more typical vertical alignment) to reflect. It is often thought of as the rarest natural occurrence in the world.

One particularly fine example was photographed over northwestern Idaho on June 3, 2006, and was reported in both the New Scientist and the Daily Mail (the latter under the caption "flaming rainbow").

Some more shots...

A gallery of a bunch more which I couldn't hotlink: http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/chaim0.htm

Pretty cool!

Etarip · 03-12-2007, 03:13 AM

Huh, never heard of such a thing, thanks for the photos!

healer · 03-12-2007, 05:22 AM

Looks friggin amazing.

Better than the Aurora?

MexicanOnABike · 03-12-2007, 08:23 AM

wow! that first picture looked amazing!

Brewmaniac · 03-12-2007, 11:11 AM

SecretMethod70, these are awesome! I'm becoming a real fan!

mandy · 03-12-2007, 01:19 PM

these are really super. i love the fact that there are people like you in the world who find these things on the internet and feel the need to share it. it's absolutely awesome...cos me, being the lazy person that i am really appreciate that people like you, take the time to do such things. whereas i, just use the internet basically to tfp, google and chat

bobby · 03-12-2007, 04:37 PM

my mother lives in Sokane and actually saw this.....sent me the pics last summer!!!......................xoxoxoo

Esoteric · 03-17-2007, 01:24 PM

That first pic is incredible. The rest don't do it justice, but they are still awesome pics.

SecretMethod70 · 03-17-2007, 02:55 PM

well, keep in mind that the first pic is probably enhanced to draw out the details of the effect. The rest are probably more in line with what the naked eye sees.

Esoteric · 03-21-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretMethod70

well, keep in mind that the first pic is probably enhanced to draw out the details of the effect. The rest are probably more in line with what the naked eye sees.

That didn't even cross my mind, haha. <_<

Daniel_ · 03-22-2007, 12:12 AM

I live on the coast, and see these from time to time when a rainbow forms betwen my location and high altitude cloud over the sea.

Rare, but beautiful.

03-12-2007, 08:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	wow! that first picture looked amazing! __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

03-12-2007, 01:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
mandy Addict Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa	these are really super. i love the fact that there are people like you in the world who find these things on the internet and feel the need to share it. it's absolutely awesome...cos me, being the lazy person that i am really appreciate that people like you, take the time to do such things. whereas i, just use the internet basically to tfp, google and chat __________________ The Imagination equips us to see a reality we have yet to create

03-12-2007, 04:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	my mother lives in Sokane and actually saw this.....sent me the pics last summer!!!......................xoxoxoo __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo

03-17-2007, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Esoteric Tired Location: Florida	That first pic is incredible. The rest don't do it justice, but they are still awesome pics. __________________ From a head full of pressure rests the senses that I clutch Made a date with Divinity, but she wouldn't let me fuck I got touched by a hazy shaded, God help me change Caught a rush on the floor from the life in my veins

03-17-2007, 02:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	well, keep in mind that the first pic is probably enhanced to draw out the details of the effect. The rest are probably more in line with what the naked eye sees. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

03-12-2007, 03:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Etarip Tilted	Huh, never heard of such a thing, thanks for the photos!

03-12-2007, 11:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	SecretMethod70, these are awesome! I'm becoming a real fan!

03-22-2007, 12:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
Daniel_ Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It! Location: Southern England	I live on the coast, and see these from time to time when a rainbow forms betwen my location and high altitude cloud over the sea. Rare, but beautiful. __________________ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════╗ Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air, And deep beneath the rolling waves, In labyrinths of Coral Caves, The Echo of a distant time Comes willowing across the sand; And everthing is Green and Submarine ╚═════════════════════════════════════════╝