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Credit & Copyright: Mila Zinkova
Explanation:
Is that white arch real?
What is being seen is a
fogbow,
a reflection of sunlight by water drops similar to a rainbow but without the colors.
The fog itself is not confined to an
arch --
the fog is mostly transparent but relatively uniform.
The fogbow
shape is created by those drops with the best angle to divert
sunlight to the observer.
The fogbow's
relative lack of colors are caused by the relatively
smaller water drops.
The drops active above are
so small
that the quantum mechanical wavelength of light becomes important and
smears out colors
that would be created by larger
rainbow water drops acting like small
prisms reflecting sunlight.
The above striking image of a
fogbow
was taken last week with the Sun behind the photographer.
Close inspection of the far right of the
full
image
will show one of the two suspension towers of the
Golden
Gate Bridge in
California,
USA.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: fog bow
Publications with words: fog bow