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Credit & Copyright: John Rummel
Explanation:
What's happening over Bryce Canyon?
Two different optical effects that were captured in
one image taken earlier this month.
Both effects needed to have the Sun situated directly behind the photographer.
The nearest apparition was the common
rainbow,
created by sunlight streaming from the setting sun over the head of the photographer,
and scattering from raindrops in front of the canyon.
If you look closely, even a
second rainbow appears above the first.
More rare, and perhaps more striking, are the rays of light that emanate out from
the horizon above the canyon.
These are known as anticrepuscular
rays
and result from sunlight streaming though breaks in the clouds, around the sky, and
converging at the point 180 degrees around from the Sun.
Geometrically, this
antisolar point
must coincide with the exact center of the rainbows.
Located in Utah, USA,
Bryce Canyon itself
contains a
picturesque array of ancient
sedimentary rock spires known as
hoodoos.
APOD Editor to Speak: Saturday, August 8 at
Keweenaw Science & Engineering
Festival
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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: anticrepuscular rays
Publications with words: anticrepuscular rays
See also: