APOD: 2026 August 2 – A Fire Rainbow over West Virginia
The post APOD: 2026 August 2 – A Fire Rainbow over West Virginia appeared first on NASA Science .
On August 2, 2026, an astronomy picture of the day captured a rare phenomenon known as a fire rainbow over West Virginia, USA. A fire rainbow, also called a circumhorizontal arc, is an ethereal display caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. These crystals must be horizontally aligned, typically found in cirrus fibratus clouds, for the fire rainbow to be visible.
The sun must be at least 58 degrees above the horizon, a condition met by the distant cirrus clouds above North Fork Mountain in West Virginia. The image, taken in 2021, showcases the flame-like appearance of the fire rainbow, which is a captivating sight for those fortunate enough to witness it.
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- APOD: 2026 August 2 – A Fire Rainbow over West Virginia science.nasa.gov
