Oct 19, 2023 · A fire rainbow is one of the few halos formed by the refraction of light in plate-shaped ice crystals mixed in the atmosphere, typically in cirrus clouds.

In its full form, the arc has the appearance of a large, brightly spectrum-coloured band (red being the topmost colour) running parallel to the horizon, located far below the Sun or Moon. The distance …

Mar 26, 2023 · Learn about the fire rainbow or circumhorizontal arc. See how it works and how to distinguish it from cloud iridescence or sun dogs.

Despite their name, fire rainbows are neither fire nor rainbows. Their technical name is circumhorizontal arcs, and they occur when sunlight interacts with high-altitude cirrus clouds containing hexagonal ice …

Feb 19, 2026 · For a few minutes, it looks as if the atmosphere itself has caught fire. The name that circulates online is “ fire rainbow.” It is memorable but not precise. The phenomenon is formally …

Aug 20, 2015 · First of all, they’re not ‘fire rainbows’; in fact, they’re not rainbows at all. The correct name is circumhorizontal arc, and it’s an optical phenomenon formed by the refraction of sunlight...

Jan 7, 2026 · When a patch of cloud high in the atmosphere bursts into a brilliant, multicolored band, it often earns the evocative name of a “fire rainbow.” This stunning display is an optical illusion that …

Dec 29, 2024 · Contrary to its name, a fire rainbow is not a rainbow or related to fire. It occurs when sunlight passes through ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds, refracting and dispersing into a …

Feb 17, 2026 · Fire rainbows, scientifically called circumhorizontal arcs, are very rare. Not everyone gets lucky enough to spot them. They look like fiery, multicoloured clouds and are so vibrant that …

Despite what the name suggests, fire rainbows are not really rainbows and there’s no fire involved. Technically known as circumhorizontal arcs, fire rainbows are an optical phenomenon involving …