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A smile in the sky

Posted by in Today's Image | August 13, 2016

Although it looks like an upside-down rainbow, it’s what’s called a circumzenithal arc. Katerina Russo captured this in Italy on August 9.

Image via Katerina Russo

Katerina Russo saw this circumzenithal arc in Casore del Monte, Tuscany, Italy on August 9, 2016.

Circumzenithal arcs have been described as an “upside down rainbow” or “a grin in the sky.” But circumzenithal arcs are not really rainbows. Instead, they’re caused by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.

Find out more and see photos here.

Thanks for sharing your photo with us Katerina!

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Eleanor Imster

Eleanor Imster

Eleanor Imster has helped write and edit EarthSky since 1995. She was an integral part of the award-winning EarthSky radio series almost since it began until it ended in 2013. Today, as Lead Editor at EarthSky.org, she helps present the science and nature stories and photos you enjoy. She also serves as one of the voices of EarthSky on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and G+. She and her husband live in Tennessee and have two grown sons.

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