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Credit & Copyright: Dave Loschiavo
Explanation:
At sunset,
an alignment of rainbow and mountain shadow
was captured in this remarkable snapshot.
The stunning view was recorded
from a fire lookout on Smith Peak
in the Plumas National Forest near Portola, California
on July 13.
Still, near sunset it's no accident that the
majestic mountain shadow seems to point to
the center of the graceful
rainbow arc.
Due to perspective and the long line of sight the
mountain shadow naturally forms a
tapering triangular shape,
its apex positioned at the point opposite the Sun
on the horizon.
Following thunderstorms across the region, the
rainbow arcs across
the early evening sky, with
its colorful and characteristic 42 degree arc formed
as sunlight is refracted and reflected by the atmospheric water droplets.
The geometric center of a rainbow arc
lies at the antisolar point.
And in this scene from the golden hour on
planet Earth, that's
also oposite the setting Sun along the distant horizon.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: shadow - rainbow
Publications with words: shadow - rainbow
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 23 Á Contrail Shadow X
- APOD: 2024 February 11 Á Rocket Plume Shadow Points to the Moon
- APOD: 2024 January 22 Á Shadows of Mountain and Moon
- APOD: 2023 May 9 Á Shadows of Earth
- APOD: 2023 March 13 Á Rainbow Tree
- A Full Circle Rainbow over Norway
- Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey