APOD: A Rainbow Pileus Cloud over Zimbabwe (2014 Feb 19)

[APOD Robot]

A Rainbow Pileus Cloud over Zimbabwe

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 before sunset when it was noticed by chance by a photographer in Murambi East, near Odzi Valley and the Mtanda Range of Zimbabwe. Also captured were unusual cloud ripples above the pileus cloud. The formation of a rare pileus cloud capping a common cumulus cloud is an indication that the lower cloud is expanding upward and might well develop into a storm. In this case, however, only a few minutes after the colorful cloud was noticed, it disappeared.

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[Boomer12k]

Yet another interesting phenomena, and we should be grateful someone was there to photograph this rare occurrence.


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[Markus Schwarz]

Looks like a UFO lifting off

[Indigo_Sunrise]

Interesting image.

Now, can someone point out the invisible cat that is supposed to be in the last link of the description? The one in the 'disappeared' link..?

TIA!

[Markus Schwarz]

Now, can someone point out the invisible cat that is supposed to be in the last link of the description? The one in the 'disappeared' link..?

Spoiler warning!

[neufer]

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

Looks like a UFO lifting off

[MrSpectroscopy]

Judging by the shape of the upper cloud, it is not composed of droplets (like the lower cumulus), but ice crystals.

[neufer]

Judging by the shape of the upper cloud, it is not composed of droplets (like the lower cumulus), but ice crystals.

It is probably composed of tiny (recently condensed) water droplets (unlike the lower cumulus).

[Anthony Barreiro]

Click back and forth between the cropped version of this image that appears on today's apod page and the full version that appears when you click on the front-page image. The full image is much more pleasantly proportioned, at least to my eye.

[Ann]

Two of the more appealing aspects of planet Earth is that it has iridescent clouds (okay, rainbow pileus clouds) and cats!!!

Ah, Close Encounter of the Third Kind. That was a long time ago. I was a little disappointed that the video ended before we saw the pre-E.T.'s that inspired Spielberg to create his long-faced blue-eyed castaway on Earth who just wanted to phone home.

Ann

[julianm3]

Nice work Mr. Lowenstein. Talk about the right place at the right time . . .

[Ron-Astro Pharmacist]

This phenomenon deserves its own name. Maybe it could be:

rainb'halo
(a "rainbow-like" halo cloud) ??

Other suggestions welcome… "Rainbow Pileus Cloud" doesn't capture its coolness.

[Ann]

Click back and forth between the cropped version of this image that appears on today's apod page and the full version that appears when you click on the front-page image. The full image is much more pleasantly proportioned, at least to my eye.

And some of the links are just stunning!

Ann

[Anthony Barreiro]

Click back and forth between the cropped version of this image that appears on today's apod page and the full version that appears when you click on the front-page image. The full image is much more pleasantly proportioned, at least to my eye.

And some of the links are just stunning!

Ann

Wow.

[DavidLeodis]

It's a fascinating image and what luck to be there to take the photo as the view was soon lost according to the explanation.

I'm confused that the "above image" link does not bring up the image used for the APOD. As I find it interesting to know when and where APOD images were taken I thought that the "above image" link may give me the date and possibly the time. Through the APOD image Exif properties I have however found that it was taken on "January 28, 2014 6:19:18PM (timezone not specified)".

PS. I saw the cat quickly so I then spent some time giving that image a good look at but I only saw that one cat so I assume there are no more!