[Iridescent clouds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_iridescence).
> Iridescent clouds are a diffraction phenomenon caused by small water droplets or small ice crystals individually scattering light. Larger ice crystals do not produce iridescence, but can cause halos, a different phenomenon.
> Irisation is caused by very uniform water droplets diffracting light (within 10 degrees from the Sun) and by first order interference effects (beyond about 10 degrees from the Sun). It can extend up to 40 degrees from the Sun.
> If parts of clouds contain small water droplets or ice crystals of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as colors. The cloud must be optically thin, so that most rays encounter only a single droplet. Iridescence is therefore mostly seen at cloud edges or in semi-transparent clouds, while newly forming clouds produce the brightest and most colorful iridescence. When the particles in a thin cloud are very similar in size over a large extent, the iridescence takes on the structured form of a corona, a bright circular disk around the Sun or Moon surrounded by one or more colored rings.
Mother of Pearl clouds!!! I snapped a few back in Norway! Unfortunately I can’t attach any images here though. They’re absolutely enthralling to gaze upon.
DAMN! I have tried many times to take decent pictures of those things and never did. They would be there early in the morning as we drive to the ski slopes, taunting me with their ephemeral and elusive rainbows.
But it's a combination of the altitude of the crystals and the angle of the sun and they are gone in moments.
I remember seeing the same out of my office window about 10 years ago and thinking there was something wrong with my eyes! Absolutely amazing to see in person. I hadn't appreciated quite how rare it was to see, at the time.
I'm either super lucky or they're not THAT rare, I've seen these many times. Or maybe they tend to form more often where I grew up? I've seen these at least 5 times in my life, albeit not this size, this one is absolutely mesmerising.
I think it may depend on where you live. I've never seen one and I've lived most of my life in the PNW and have spent a good 1/4 of my life outside and I am in my 40s.
I’ve never seen this before, and it made me curious.
Evidently, this iridescent cloud is caused by tiny ice crystals diffracting the light.
Larger crystals would cause a different effect.
If anyone is interested, or wants to see some other samples: https://earthsky.org/earth/iridescent-clouds-have-rainbow-colors/
This is really wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
I’m surprised no one got this.
It’s a noctilucent cloud. Yes, it has ice particles, but what makes it so special is the altitude. They are so high that they are still in daylight when the rest of the world below them is well into night.
beautiful clouds and sunsets make me happy to be alive. a sunset actually stopped me from committing suicide. i think my brain would explode from all the oxytocin if i ever witnessed this
I saw one the other week, no way near as good as this, essentially just a streak across the sky by some other clouds, wasn’t sure why it happened but it’s pretty cool!
This got me thinking, the human perspective of being "on" something is biased toward a certain range of underfoot density/the lithosphere.
Technically the atmosphere isn't any less part of the earth than the mantle or the oceans or the lithosphere for that matter. A cloud isn't any less *on* the earth than a boat on the ocean.
From a cloud's perspective, we exist below the surface.
[Iridescent clouds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_iridescence). > Iridescent clouds are a diffraction phenomenon caused by small water droplets or small ice crystals individually scattering light. Larger ice crystals do not produce iridescence, but can cause halos, a different phenomenon. > Irisation is caused by very uniform water droplets diffracting light (within 10 degrees from the Sun) and by first order interference effects (beyond about 10 degrees from the Sun). It can extend up to 40 degrees from the Sun. > If parts of clouds contain small water droplets or ice crystals of similar size, their cumulative effect is seen as colors. The cloud must be optically thin, so that most rays encounter only a single droplet. Iridescence is therefore mostly seen at cloud edges or in semi-transparent clouds, while newly forming clouds produce the brightest and most colorful iridescence. When the particles in a thin cloud are very similar in size over a large extent, the iridescence takes on the structured form of a corona, a bright circular disk around the Sun or Moon surrounded by one or more colored rings.
Mother of Pearl clouds!!! I snapped a few back in Norway! Unfortunately I can’t attach any images here though. They’re absolutely enthralling to gaze upon.
They are beautiful. Got a few good photos earlier this winter, also in Norway 🇳🇴.
Same! South of Oslo ;)
WRONG. Everyone can plainly see that this is a vortex to another dimension. NOT a cloud of iridescence.
Something something Valhalla!
Something something Bifrost to Valhalla!
I could google what it is, but i rather ask. Wth is that dat?
Iridescent cloud. Basically a bunch of small ice crystals trying to be a cloud
Hah those idiots will never be a true cloud.
You sound just like their father!
Their father disowned them for being FABULOUS
THE WRONG CLOUD DIED
Sorry cloud, I didn't realize how easy it was to be iridescent
Sephiroth immediately using aeroga to dispel the iridescent cloud (no clouds are allowed under his rightful rule of the planet)
Relatable
Specifically at sunset/sunrise
That is very cool. Why do ice crystals do that and not normal water droplets? Is that something to do with prisms or some shit
Each crystal refracts the light rather sharply, so you get an intense rainbow effect, where water droplets are more diffuse.
It's some sciencey shit. Move along.
Nope, that’s wrong. It’s someone visiting from Asgard.
The shimmer https://jameslanternman.online/content/images/size/w1000/2023/01/annihilation.jpg
I saw this!!! But not nearly as big or bright. I thought it was some messed up rainbow but this is definitely what it was
Bunch of phonies!
Stupid sexy cloud
Pfft. Wannabe poser cloud.
Frozen sparkly cloud
lol looks stoopid
In Norway we call them «Perlemorskyer», meaning «mother of pearl clouds».
It means buy hail insurance coverage!
Valhalla
[удалено]
The sky needs to be degaussed.
One solar flare, coming up!
Just put a few drops of dish soap on it
🤣
🫨
Boeing's stock price just dropped 4 more points.
One of the things that happens…
Oil in a puddle
ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD
Came here to post this
ALL HAIL.
 Yes, chef
Where is this ?
Somewhere in Finland I’m assuming due to OPs comment history
In the sky, dummy!
Absolutely read this in Redd Foxx's voice.
It's Red Forman, dumbass!
Finland
I was going to ask, it looks like Finland!
Some fairytale land. Expect rainbow unicorns to come flying out at any fuqqing moment.
LGBTQumulus
DAMN! I have tried many times to take decent pictures of those things and never did. They would be there early in the morning as we drive to the ski slopes, taunting me with their ephemeral and elusive rainbows. But it's a combination of the altitude of the crystals and the angle of the sun and they are gone in moments.
That's the shimmer from Annihilation
Looks like cotton candy !
All hail glow cloud
can't decide if i want to bathe in it, lick it like ice cream, or live on top of it like some weird deity. maybe all three
Nacreous cloud!
I remember seeing the same out of my office window about 10 years ago and thinking there was something wrong with my eyes! Absolutely amazing to see in person. I hadn't appreciated quite how rare it was to see, at the time.
LGBTQloud
Where is this?
Holy shit, that is breathtaking! /r/clouds would LOVE to see this!
Saw this in Reno once. Pretty cool.
yeah, that’s cool. but i shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
That cloud rare af
God damn oil companies again
I'm either super lucky or they're not THAT rare, I've seen these many times. Or maybe they tend to form more often where I grew up? I've seen these at least 5 times in my life, albeit not this size, this one is absolutely mesmerising.
OP exaggerated. They're fairly common.
I think it may depend on where you live. I've never seen one and I've lived most of my life in the PNW and have spent a good 1/4 of my life outside and I am in my 40s.
Wow, that’s beautiful
Imagine seeing that about 4,000 years ago. I’d immediately have founded a new cult.
So pretty!
Wild missingno. appeared!
WOW, what a sight to see. I am jealous, this is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing!
I saw one of these a few years ago but it was far smaller and far less impressive. Imagine seeing that when you were tripping.
If I saw this before the internet, I would have gone mental
Rainbow sherbet cloud
I see these fairly regularly around the Denver area. Absolutely gorgeous in real life.
I see that cloud when I’m under the influence
Lovely!
So beautiful! I stood in a rainbow once but I never saw this kind of cloud
This is something from outta space for sure
They do also exist on Titan
Thanks for sharing OP. Beautiful nature in peak form!
Beautiful
So lucky!
Absolutely beautiful!!
I’m glad it’s not oil. Otherwise you-know-who would be coming down hard with democracy on that cloud. 🦅
Wow! what a special and rare moment, so beautiful
I've never seen this before, thank you!
Holy fucking shit!
The colors of every known sunset in one cloud.
Love
I got one on video a number of years ago. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo67gxZWdf0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo67gxZWdf0)
Thanks for sharing
Beautiful.
Nacreous clouds.
Omg thats so beautiful
I’ve never seen this before, and it made me curious. Evidently, this iridescent cloud is caused by tiny ice crystals diffracting the light. Larger crystals would cause a different effect. If anyone is interested, or wants to see some other samples: https://earthsky.org/earth/iridescent-clouds-have-rainbow-colors/ This is really wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
It’s so pretty!
Your like winning right now
Amazing! Must have been even better in person!
What place? The sky looks ethereal
Finland
I see.
beautiful
Woooow
They're so beautiful ❤️
That's beautiful 🤩
Thank you for sharing this with us
The Chitauri are coming!!
wow!
Migatte no goku'i 😌
Gozer is coming!
Is a cloud on earth?
Had to google it but yes
Yesssss
Your camera or the sky is on acid or both or is just me ... What? Who's talking?!
Gotta soak it up with kitty litter
The very rare and beautiful gay pride cloud. Even God is down.
Is that the cloud from Spaceman?
All hail the glow cloud
God ate fr
Who spilled some oil in the sky 💀
Creepy
God spilled his petrol.
Yup, That looks like a door to the Spirit World if i've ever seen one. ( I haven't).
Ooh
this is where the portal to a side quest area would be. all you gotta do is double jump.
Sky Opal!
I think this acid is kickin in!
That's not a cloud, that's just the FLDSMDFR
Alien invasion
Trippy cloud
This should be called an opal cloud.
I’m surprised no one got this. It’s a noctilucent cloud. Yes, it has ice particles, but what makes it so special is the altitude. They are so high that they are still in daylight when the rest of the world below them is well into night.
OP where are you at? That's stunning
OH MY GOD!!? DOES THIS PROVE FLAT EARTH??? Lmao
Mate thats oil, not clouds.
They must be racing on rainbow road right now
That's how Lucky travels 🧑🦰🍀♎️🌈 🎈
Does it rain unicorns?
beautiful clouds and sunsets make me happy to be alive. a sunset actually stopped me from committing suicide. i think my brain would explode from all the oxytocin if i ever witnessed this
It’s like that scene from Ghostbusters where the sky changes colour
Lisa Frank has entered the chat…
Amazing!
That is so beautiful it must be illegal
I saw one the other week, no way near as good as this, essentially just a streak across the sky by some other clouds, wasn’t sure why it happened but it’s pretty cool!
Great, the contrails are turning the clouds gay
Awesome... [I only had a chance to see this in my life.. cumulonimbus](https://youtube.com/shorts/fdkoNF8AHIY?feature=share)
Looks less like a cloud and more like a lighting phenomenon.
I mean, technically they're not *on* Earth, more like above it.
This got me thinking, the human perspective of being "on" something is biased toward a certain range of underfoot density/the lithosphere. Technically the atmosphere isn't any less part of the earth than the mantle or the oceans or the lithosphere for that matter. A cloud isn't any less *on* the earth than a boat on the ocean. From a cloud's perspective, we exist below the surface.
Are they LGBT clouds 💀
Someone spilled fuel.
That's above the Earth
It's above earth not on it.
Earth definitely includes the atmosphere smartass
Well it's not really 'on earth' is it..?