It’s Not A Bird. It’s Not A Plane. It’s … ?

Posted on June 20, 2018 | 40 Comments

Alert — and uncertain — “06880” reader Lara Willis just sent this photo:

She took it at 12:10 this afternoon, in the parking lot behind Trader Joe’s.

Five minutes later, it was gone.

She’s pretty sure it’s not a rainbow. Hey: It didn’t rain.

If you know what this was, click “Comments” below.

If you just think it looks gorgeous, click “Comments” too.

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40 responses to “It’s Not A Bird. It’s Not A Plane. It’s … ?”

    • Melissa Crouch Chang | June 20, 2018 at 3:58 pm |

      I see I’m wrong, but I think that alanthamilton below is correct – circumhorizontal arc

  2. Matthew Mandell | June 20, 2018 at 2:20 pm |

    It’s called Cloud Iridescence. Water or ice particles refract in the clouds and cause it. Cool stuff……

  3. Bob Fatherley | June 20, 2018 at 2:22 pm |

    High altitude ice crystals turning sunlight into a prism.

  4. Lynn Wilson | June 20, 2018 at 2:23 pm |

    It’s gorgeous!

  5. Avi Kaner | June 20, 2018 at 2:23 pm |

    So cool. I believe it may be Cloud Iridescence?

    Here’s more information and pics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_iridescence

  6. alanthamilton | June 20, 2018 at 2:23 pm |

    I think it’s a circumhorizontal arc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumhorizontal_arc

  7. David Meth | June 20, 2018 at 2:27 pm |

    Announced yesterday: Space Force One
    Kim, Putin, Dutuerte, Shih, Pence on board. Oh, Melania.

  8. Jill Turner-Odice | June 20, 2018 at 2:29 pm |

    It’s also known as a Sundog

  9. Dave Feliciano | June 20, 2018 at 2:47 pm |

    Learned a lot today, I thought it was God smiling.

  10. Patricia McMahon | June 20, 2018 at 2:54 pm |

    WOW!!!!!!

  11. Susana Weyer | June 20, 2018 at 2:55 pm |

    Thank you for sharing! It made my day brighter. Just beautiful!

  12. Evan Stein | June 20, 2018 at 3:00 pm |

    Photoshop

  13. Seth Goltzer | June 20, 2018 at 3:37 pm |

    It is like a rainbow , caused by stratospheric ice crystals in the cloud that act like prisms,

  14. Seth Goltzer | June 20, 2018 at 3:42 pm |

    I should say that it is a Stratus cloud containing ice crystals.
    Stuff that was taught when I went to school many years ago.
    Nowadays it can

    be described as kinda like when some water spills on the screen of your phone and it makes pretty colors and you have to get off Facebook for 30 seconds and your life is ruined….kinda!

  15. Julie Cao | June 20, 2018 at 3:43 pm |

    Northern lights perhaps?
    Although it wouldn’t make sense…

    • Julie Cao | June 20, 2018 at 3:45 pm |

      Ahhh just read previous comments and they make more sense;)

      But it beautiful nonetheless!!!

  16. Nancy Hunter | June 20, 2018 at 3:51 pm |

    World Refugee Day.

  17. Jeff Seaver | June 20, 2018 at 4:09 pm |

    Irridescent clouds… ice in the atmosphere I think. Gorgeous… great shot by Lara.

  18. Jane Sherman | June 20, 2018 at 4:53 pm |

    Is that what pilots call a Glory? My father used to see it very occasionally when he had his plane.

  19. Wendy Batteau | June 20, 2018 at 5:02 pm |

    Whatever the “non-rainbow” is named, the photo should be on the cover of a Westport calendar.

  20. Janet Navon | June 20, 2018 at 5:11 pm |

    It is obviously in honor of LGBTQ pride month

  21. Candace Banks | June 20, 2018 at 5:30 pm |

    Stunning photo, Lara!! 🙂

  22. Denise Torve | June 20, 2018 at 5:40 pm |

    Being positive in these dark, dreadful times. An omen that better days are coming.

  23. Maria Parker Karlen | June 20, 2018 at 5:46 pm |

    Think it’s a reflection of the ice crystals ina renticular cloud

  24. Karen Wambach | June 20, 2018 at 5:46 pm |

    We always called these sun dogs…don’t know why….

  25. Stephanie Bass | June 20, 2018 at 5:52 pm |

    ..beginning of a Rod Serling (sp?) edisode… this time let’s be nice to aliens, from space and next door…..

  26. Matt McGrath | June 20, 2018 at 8:54 pm |

    Also known as a fire rainbow…

  27. Steve Stein | June 21, 2018 at 8:10 am |

    And the winner is circumhorizontal arc!

    https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140524.html

  29. Barbara Myers | June 21, 2018 at 4:37 pm |

    It’s called a sunbow.

  30. Jalna Jaeger | June 21, 2018 at 7:38 pm |

    it looks like a large sun dog!