circumhorizontal arc
Horizontal ice halo
A circumhorizontal arc is a horizontal band of spectral colors that appears in the sky when sunlight refracts through ice crystals in high cirrus clouds.
The arc forms parallel to the horizon, displaying vivid rainbow-like colors—sometimes called a fire rainbow, though it involves no fire or rain.
It occurs only when the sun is high in the sky, making it more common at lower latitudes.
Atmospheric bright spot
- parhelic circleHalo parallel to horizon
- light pillarAtmospheric optical column phenomenon
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- parhelionMock solar apparition
Solid water formations
- cirrus cloudsHigh, thin ice formations
- high altitudeGreat distance upward
- thin cloudsSparse atmospheric vapor
- cirrostratusHigh thin ice sheet
Wave bending between media
- dispersionScattering across space
- solar spectrumSun's electromagnetic wavelength distribution
- color bandsAdjacent strips of hue
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
light bending · chromatic · sunlight · spectrum · critical angle · color separation
Colorful halo in cirrus clouds
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
- vivid colorsIntense, striking shades
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
- luminousEmitting or reflecting light
ethereal · multicolored · vibrant · spectral colors · fleeting · breathtaking
Observing the night sky
- rare phenomenonInfrequent happening
- clear skyAtmosphere without clouds
- weather conditionsAtmospheric state outdoors
- seasonalRecurring at fixed intervals
sundog
Atmospheric bright spot
- parhelic circleHalo parallel to horizon
- light pillarAtmospheric optical column phenomenon
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
ice crystals
Solid water formations
- cirrus cloudsHigh, thin ice formations
- high altitudeGreat distance upward
- thin cloudsSparse atmospheric vapor
refraction
Wave bending between media
- dispersionScattering across space
- solar spectrumSun's electromagnetic wavelength distribution
- color bandsAdjacent strips of hue
spectral · light bending · chromatic · sunlight · spectrum · critical angle · color separation
fire rainbow
Colorful halo in cirrus clouds
- iridescenceColor shift from interference
- vivid colorsIntense, striking shades
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
luminous · ethereal · multicolored · vibrant · spectral colors · fleeting · breathtaking
skywatching
Observing the night sky
- rare phenomenonInfrequent happening
- clear skyAtmosphere without clouds
- weather conditionsAtmospheric state outdoors
- sky phenomenathunderstorm, lightning, rainbow, sunset, sunrise
- sky lightsnorthern lights, southern lights, rainbow, sundog, sun dog
- sky opticsrainbow, double rainbow, sundog, halo, sun halo
- rare phenomenaanomaly, rarity, oddity, phenomenon, aberration
- celestial circlesorbit, ring, planetary ring, orbital path, halo
horizon, horizontal, circumscribe, circumference, circumnavigate