[AZ-Observing] Re: iridescent green mother of pearl sky
- From: "Tom Polakis" <polakis@xxxxxxx>
- To: "Reply-To:az-observing"@freelists.org
- Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 11:50:20 -0700
Bill,
It's in your subject line; it sounds like iridescence, which shows up
often when there are sheared, wind-blown clouds present. See the
Astronomy Picture of the Day from a couple months ago.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030311.html
They aren't all that rare. I think they show up in middle-level clouds
more than cirrus, as they are due to diffraction around water droplets,
and not ice crystals.
Tom
> I would like an explanation please of the following.
>
> Saturday, May 2 at Kartchner Caverns State Park, was the middle of the
four day Astrofest with speakers and nightly star parties. Towards sunset
the sun was shining through high cirrus clouds. A large section of the
clouds southeast of the sun became incredibly brilliant mother of pearl
blue and rich aqua green. This area was NOT 22* south of the sun and
absolutely NOT sundogs, nor were they in line to be sun pillars. In fact
the phenomenon was not at all symmetrical. What is this?
>
> Bill Peters
> afls@xxxxxxx
>
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