A rare cloud 'phenomenon' was spotted over Bournemouth last week.
The rainbow coloured haze in the cloudy sky led a string of enquiries on social media.
And while many put the colourful sight down to cloud iridesence, some said it could also be a circumhorizontal arc.
Can anyone help explain this? #rainbow #sunnyday #colourfulcloud #lovebournemouth @Bournemouthecho pic.twitter.com/jQvQxxNVWo
— Mrs Brown's Blogs (@diaryofmrsbrown) July 13, 2017
Cloud iridesence happens when light is diffracted by ice crystals in the clouds, producing a rainbow effect.
Whereas circumhorizontal arcs are apparently formed when the sun is higher than 58 degrees above the horizon. Light is refracted as it passes through high cirrus clouds.
The two, though similar in appearance it seems, are different, although as rare.
It's too far from the sun for iridescence. It's actually a small section of a circumhorizontal arc. https://t.co/4AwjyZs0gT
— WessexWeather (@WessexWeather) July 13, 2017
cloud iridescence - fairly rare apparently! i only know because that happened the other day too
— matt northam ™ (@mattnortham) July 13, 2017
We saw it over Brownsea pic.twitter.com/SqGABM0vrr
— Hellyhorro (@hellyhorro) July 13, 2017
Other readers have got in touch to say they saw a similar cloud formation on May 21.
If you captured any pictures, send them to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk and we'll add them to our story.
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