“Me day” brings amazing cloud iridescence

“Me day” brings amazing cloud iridescence
Cloud iridescence is seen toward the rising sun in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

I’ve been burning the candle at both ends pretty heavily lately and just needed a quick break to recharge so I took today off as a “me day.” That of course meant a morning of photography and while I got some cool critter pics to share in the coming days, there was also this.

As I waited for some action, looking to the east the clouds to the south of the sun were a veritable rainbow of colors. The iridescence coupled with the way cool shapes in the clouds was pretty darned awesome to see (but kind of hard to capture in pictures).

Cloud iridescence is caused by clouds (usually cirrus) that have small water droplets or ice crystals in them causing the light to be diffracted, or spread out. The phenomena is much like the rainbow colors seen with oil in water.

Cloud iridescence is seen toward the rising sun in Colorado. (© Tony's Takes)
Cloud iridescence is seen toward the rising sun in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

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