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Credit & Copyright: Michael Koch
Explanation:
Why would a cloud appear to be different colors?
A relatively rare phenomenon known as
iridescent clouds can show unusual colors vividly or a whole
spectrum of colors simultaneously.
These clouds are formed of small
water droplets of nearly uniform size.
When the Sun is in the
right position and mostly hidden by thick clouds,
these thinner clouds significantly
diffract sunlight in a nearly coherent manner,
with different colors being deflected by different amounts.
Therefore, different colors will come to the observer
from slightly different directions.
Many clouds start with uniform regions that could show
iridescence but quickly become too thick, too mixed,
or too far from the Sun to exhibit striking colors.
Pictured above, an iridescent cloud was photographed near Cannes,
France last month.
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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: clouds
Publications with words: clouds
See also:
- Nacreous Clouds over Sweden
- APOD: 2024 November 19 Á Undulatus Clouds over Las Campanas Observatory
- APOD: 2024 July 7 Á Iridescent Clouds over Sweden
- APOD: 2023 August 20 Á A Roll Cloud Over Wisconsin
- APOD: 2023 February 12 Á Mammatus Clouds over Nebraska
- Nacreous Clouds over Lapland
- A Retreating Thunderstorm at Sunset