An Upside-down Rainbow?

By Anita in Pictures, Science & Tech on Feb 24, 2007 at 3:55 am

What looks like an upside-down rainbow is actually a rare atmospheric spectacle called a circumzenithal arc. According to the San Francisco Chronicle: “it’s an unusual phenomenon caused by sunlight shining through a thin, invisible screen of tiny ice crystals high in the sky and has nothing at all to do with the rain.”

Feel free to be scientifically correct, but I’ll stick with calling it an “upside-down rainbow” … “circumzenithal arc” just doesn’t have the same pizzazz. Link via popurls.

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

Mokuwai
Feb 24th, 2007 at 4:19 am
I wouldn’t exactly call it rare. I’ve seen these countless times. Still neat though.
Gridman
Feb 24th, 2007 at 9:52 am
So that’s what rainbows look like in Australia. Cool.
HowardTheDuck
Feb 24th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Here is another resource.

http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/cirrostratus-december-%e2%80%9 905/
Undeniable Liberal
Feb 24th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
â€œcircumzenithal arcâ€ heh
Alex
Feb 24th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
It’s a smiley rainbow!
aware
Feb 26th, 2007 at 1:14 am
more on the science and forms of rainbows.

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/bows.htm

and pretty pictures
madelyn periard
Jun 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Glad to see i’m not nuts. I saw this on the day of my husbands funeral. I’t was an answer to a prayer. This happened in upstate n.y. on 07/17/1993. It seemed to turn gold as it dissapeared.
Karen
Sep 21st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I also have a couple of pictures of this type of rainbow. June 19, 2008 in the sky above Winston, OR. Warm summer day, a few wispy clouds and a completely round rainbow. By the time I came back outside with the camera, only half the arc was visible. I’ve also seen round rainbows above the pools at the bottom of waterfalls. Amazing.
TRAVIS
Jan 8th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Hey guys was looking for some help
yesterday the 7/1/09 i was at work it was a very hot day with no rain, and saw this completely round rainbow in the sky i was lucky enough to get a picture, I have been serching the net to see what the deal is? if any one has seen one or knows what causes it that would be great. how do i upload a picture on this site???
Carol Valadez
Jan 11th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
My daughter-n-law has a great picture of an upside-down rainbow. I was wondering if there would be anyone interested in buying it from her. They could sure use the money. They are both laid off work. So I told her to save it, just in case. It is a rare photo. If anyone knows of someone interested, or where I could find out for her, please email me and let me know.
Thank You, Carol
email address:csvaladez@t6b.com
diane day
Oct 26th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
i’m lookin at one now and it’s cool..location..sistersville west virginia
grace
Nov 20th, 2009 at 5:04 am
i came across this while i was searching for upside down double rainbow, i have an excellent childhood memory of looking up and seeing an upside down rainbow directly under a right side up one!! i’ll never forget it, and my baby sister refused to look no matter how much i begged her, because she thought i was tricking her so she missed it, but i do take some pride in the memory being all my own.
Annabelle Montes
Dec 4th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
R.I.P Dad we love u with all of our hearts n we miss u so much!
The most beautiful thing I’ve seen in my life was on Dec.02.10 The day after my dad passed away, my son called me told me to look up n there it was a rainbow smiling down at us right on top of our house n the reflection was on my dads windshield of his truck. It happen here in La Puente CA on Dec.02.10. I know that was my dad smiling down at us saying he’s HappY n at a better place. I will never forget this moment,sight,day n smell. We LoVe YoU DaD with all of our hearts n u will always b in our hearts we will always miss You n u ARE THE BEST DAD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! WE LOVE YOU DAD!! O:)

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