Dr. Jeff Kretsch frequents Observatory Park at Turner Farm and on the last day of 2023 took this photo of the sun's circumzenithal arc (sometimes called Bravais' arc) about 48 degrees from the sun, showing a rainbow of color. The arc (actually part of a circular halo) is created by plate-shaped ice crystals in the Cirrus clouds. The center of the arc appears to be at zenith (hence its name). For the sun angles to refract from the ice crystals to an observer on the earth, the elevation of the sun must be less than 32 degrees above the horizon. Note that blue is "on top" and red is "on the bottom". A normal rainbow created by water droplets has red on top.
Circumzenithal Arc to End the Year
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- Category: Astronomical Events