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rainbow while sun is setting, visible facing the sun

LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
edited September 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
OK, I know it sounds weird, but while I was driving to the North East last night, I noticed, as the sun was close to setting, an arc either side of the sun, almost vertical, but curving round it a bit, like a halo, and both arcs, either side of the sun were rainbows.

While I was facing the sun! I've never seen this before, and wondered about it.

I was baffled, and thought, I know, when I get back, I'll ask H&A about it, cos someone is bound to know what it was.

Ice crystals, maybe?

My vivid imagination, maybe?

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Posts

  • JebusUDJebusUD Adventure! Candy IslandRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog

    JebusUD on
    and I wonder about my neighbors even though I don't have them
    but they're listening to every word I say
  • dlinfinitidlinfiniti Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    what does it mean?

    dlinfiniti on
    AAAAA!!! PLAAAYGUUU!!!!
  • MKRMKR Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    It means light is neat and does interesting things under the right conditions.

    MKR on
    one of those newsed letters - a blue sky
  • Raif SeveranceRaif Severance Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    dlinfiniti wrote: »
    what does it mean?

    I lol'd.

    Raif Severance on
  • DemerdarDemerdar Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    LewieP's Mummy wrote: »
    OK, I know it sounds weird, but while I was driving to the North East last night, I noticed, as the sun was close to setting, an arc either side of the sun, almost vertical, but curving round it a bit, like a halo, and both arcs, either side of the sun were rainbows.

    While I was facing the sun! I've never seen this before, and wondered about it.

    I was baffled, and thought, I know, when I get back, I'll ask H&A about it, cos someone is bound to know what it was.

    Ice crystals, maybe?

    My vivid imagination, maybe?

    basically you were right,

    they were ice crystals that acted as prisms.

    Demerdar on
    y6GGs3o.gif
  • SatsumomoSatsumomo Rated PG! Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    dlinfiniti wrote: »
    what does it mean?

    I lol'd hard too.

    I have never seen this phenomenon, one of my favorites is when a sort of halo forms around a full moon. Anyone know what's that called?

    Edit: Looked it up, and it's the exact same thing, but with the Moon instead! Neat, specially since I've actually seen it even though I live in the tropics.

    Satsumomo on
  • L Ron HowardL Ron Howard The duck MinnesotaRegistered User regular
    edited September 2010
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_dog

    L Ron Howard on
  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited September 2010
    Wow, thanks guys - the picture from central Iowa is exactly how it looked! It was sooo pretty, and lasted for ages and ages :)

    LewieP's Mummy on
    For all the top UK Gaming Bargains, check out SavyGamer

    For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints

    "The power of the weirdness compels me."
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