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Circumzenithal arc over Michigan

Posted by in Today's Image | January 15, 2019

Although people sometimes call them “upside-down rainbows,” they’re made not by rain, but by by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.

A rainbow-like arc in the sky, with red on the bottom of the arc, behind a tree.

David Lamberti caught this circumzenithal arc on January 6, 2019. Notice the kite in the tree! He wrote: “It was a beautiful January day in southeast Michigan. I looked up, and there it was, a beautiful circumzenithal arc. It was enormous, and the colors were very deep. It faded within 5 minutes.” Thank you, David!

Read more about circumzenithal arcs, and see more photos

EarthSky lunar calendars are cool! They make great gifts. Order now. Going fast!

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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