Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Pileus Iridescent Cloud Over Ethiopia

NASA ^ | August 24, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Yes, but how many dark clouds have a multicolored lining? Pictured, behind this darker cloud, is a pileus iridescent cloud, a group of water droplets that have a uniformly similar size and so together diffract different colors of sunlight by different amounts. The above image was taken just after the picturesque sight was noticed by chance by a photographer in Ethiopia. A more detailed picture of the same cloud shows not only many colors, but unusual dark and wavy bands whose origins are thought related to wave disturbances in the cloud.

[TheOldLady]

♥

[SunkenCiv]

Ain’t everything? ;’)

[COBOL2Java]

First thing I thought of when I saw it:

[noinfringers2]

Who is the person in the photo?

[DejaJude]

Looks like a skittles plant exploded.

[SunkenCiv]

I’m just glad you’re around, JPB. :’)