Top 10 Atmospheric Optical Phenomena

Rainbows occur when light is refracted and reflected through water droplets, creating a spectrum of colors.

Rainbows

Halos are optical phenomena created by the refraction of light through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

Halo

Sun dogs, or "parhelia," appear when sunlight passes through ice crystals in high-altitude clouds, creating bright spots.

Sun Dogs

A mirage occurs when layers of air at different temperatures cause light to bend, creating distorted images like pools of water.

Mirage

Glories are circular bands of color that appear around the shadow of an observer’s head, caused by tiny water droplets or mist.

Glories

Coronas form when light is diffracted by water droplets or ice crystals, producing rainbow-like rings around the sun or moon.

Coronas

A rare phenomenon where the top edge of the sun briefly appears green as it sets, caused by atmospheric refraction.

Green Flash

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