Astronomy Picture of the Day - Storm Cloud Over Texas

NASA ^ | 6 Aug, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Laura Rowe (Used with permission)

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: What makes this storm cloud so colorful? First, the cloud itself is composed of millions of tiny droplets of water and ice. Its bottom is almost completely flat -- but this isn't unusual. Bottom flatness in clouds is generally caused by air temperature dropping as you go up, and that above a specific height, water-saturated air condenses out water droplets. The shape of the cloud middle is caused by a water-droplet-laden column of air being blown upward. Most unusual, though, are the orange and yellow colors. Both colors are caused by the cloud's water drops reflecting sunlight. The orange color in the cloud's middle and bottom sections are reflections of a nearly red sunset. In contrast, the yellow color of the cloud's top results from reflection of light from a not-yet-setting Sun, where some -- but less -- blue light is being scattered away. Appearing to float above the plains in Texas, the featured impressive image of a dynamic cumulonimbus cloud was captured in 2021 while investigating a tornado.

[MtnClimber]

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[ComputerGuy]

I’ve seen it before and still think it’s the best storm cloud pic I’ve ever seen.

[Bon of Babble]

That is spectacular!

[Red Badger]

Gorgeous!........................

[No name given]

It looks like the spaceship 🚀 from “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind”.

[xoxox]

Laura sure got her 15 min.

[Nateman]

Spectacular!

[Repeal The 17th]

“Meteorology” Picture Of The Day.

[metmom]

That’s awesome, but astronomy it’s not.

[TigersEye]

It far surpasses anything I’ve ever seen in life or photograph.

It would have been amazing to see in person.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thanks MC!!
Spectacular Texas sunset!!
PING to my Texas buddies!

[telescope115]

That’s awesome, but astronomy it’s not.

Right. It’s METEORology. Our weather systems are SO dynamic, and the clouds are great indicators of that. I’m always looking at the clouds, wishing that they would go away so I can look at the sky, day or night. But then there are trees, lol. That cloud picture is fantastic. Won’t see that in my neck of the woods, too many trees and hills.

Nature is awesome.

[minnesota_bound]

That storm cloud is gonna stomp all over the land.
WHOMP!

[goodnesswins]

That could make someone think end of world has arrived!

[goldbux]

Looks like a giant Monty Python stompy foot, with ceremonial boot attached!

[metmom]

Agreed.

[mabarker1]

Texas Sunsets are some of the best I’ve ever seen.

Beats the Sunset Beach in Hawaii any evening !!!