Rainbows upside down

[johnalison]

I hope you saw the beautiful photo in the Telegraph today of a circumzenithal arc. Here's one I made earlier; it just about qualifies as boaty because I took it from the boat this summer.

If you're interested in these things there is a superb site here which gives details of all sorts of "bows".

 

[jerryat]

Much better picture in the Times. Excellent colour reproduction of a very unusual phenomenon!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DownWest]

While flying I have seen a few completely circular `rainbows´, just need to be high enough off the ground for the effect ( and that is not very high)
Andrew

 

[beserksail]

Seen complete circular rainbow with shadow of plane inside on flight back from Portugal on Thursday. Similar apparitions appear in the mountains, can not remember what they are called. But spectacular.

 

[DaveS]

The plane's (or, in the hills, person's) shadow is a "Brokken spectre". The circular rainbow (or, more rarely, rainbows) is a "glory". It's better on the hill than from a plane: if in a group, unless standing very close together, each can only see his/her own spectre. It's also difficult to judge size, so the spectre can seem enormous.

 

[peterb]

Very useful if you are gliding and thermalling near other gliders. Look at the shadows; one of them has a halo round it; that's you!