“Look at clouds, mummy. Rainbow!” Freya said.
We were sat on a bench in the park on Tuesday eating a couple of the gingerbread men we’d made the day before. She was chattering away and I was thinking to myself ‘what a lovely bright day’ when she said that sentence. I glanced up not really expecting to see anything and there is was directly above us.
Apparently it’s a “circumzenithal arc”, according to the Met Office:
In order to be able to see a circumzenithal arc, a combination of atmospheric conditions must coincide just right. The height, depth and position of the ice clouds must be right as the cloud needs to be at a specific angle convex to the sun. The position of the observer is also important since its visibility can vary greatly over short distances.
If it hadn’t been for her I would never have seen it. I’m sure there’s a lesson for me there. A man who was with his 18-month-old daughter saw me taking a photo and also looked up. He’d never seen anything like it either and got his phone out too.
What a lovely way to end the year (and a great way to begin #MySundayPhoto). Happy 2016 to you all.
After The Rain 
Wow! Stunning! Happy New Year to you and the family xxx
LikeLike
Thank you. And to you. I hope you’re healing well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just had a look under the tape and changed it and there’s a bit of redness and pus. Crying 😭
LikeLike
Nooooo. It had been going so well too 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed it’s not too bad and heals up soon. Thank you darling xxx
LikeLike
Great spot Freya!
….A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare….
Still handily had that on my paste clipboard, seemed appropriate. Here’s to time spent admiring rainbows and to looking up to spot them too! 😉
LikeLike
I’m going to have that for my quote wall! Beautiful words 🙂
LikeLike
This is interesting timing for me, having just seen the tiniest bit of (vertical) rainbow while walking on a dry day!
LikeLike
How strange that we should both see one. It’s the oddest thing I’ve seen. It felt a bit magical at the time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks like the clouds are smiling!
LikeLike
Awww you’re right, it does. How lovely 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow I have never seen that or even heard of it before
Happy New Year
Thank you for linking up
LikeLike
It was a bit special. Happy New Year, Darren. Thanks for hosting again this year.
LikeLike
What a great thing for Freya to have spotted, that’s such an unusual rainbow I’ll have to pay more attention to the sky in future.
LikeLike
Yes, I might start looking up more too. Thanks for commenting, Fiona.
LikeLike
What a beautiful and lucky sight. It’s always great when children show us something we’d not have seen. I always try and look up and down when I’m out with my camera, but you do miss things.
LikeLike
It felt really special. I’m so pleased we saw it together. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
Wow! That is amazing! Such a beautiful sky!
LikeLike
That is totally beautiful – it looks like a great big colourful smile to start the year 🙂 #mysundayphoto
LikeLike
Smiley rainbow! Definitely fitting for this year 🙂 nicely spotted Freya!
LikeLike
She can teach me a thing or two 🙂
LikeLike
That’s so cool! I’ve never seen one before 🙂 #mysundayphoto
LikeLike
What an amazing looking rainbow – have never seen one like that before either. It looks like a big smile in the sky and how wonderful that you got to see it and capture it 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Louise, I was so thrilled to see it 🙂
LikeLike
What a wonderful thing to see! Thank goodness you looked 🙂
LikeLike
I know! Imagine if I’d just carried on eating my gingerbread man. Hehe.
LikeLike