Rainbow Wheel Segment Over Conifer, Colorado

August 07, 2011

RainbowAnticrepuscular

Photographer: Beth Katz; Beth's Web site
Summary Author: Beth Katz; Jim Foster

This photo shows a segment of a rainbow wheel as viewed from near Conifer, Colorado at approximately 8:00 on the evening of July 10, 2011. This was the second day in a row that showy rainbows brightened the evening sky here. However, on this day, the bow was accompanied by obvious "spokes." A rainbow wheel is a rainbow interspersed with anticrepuscular rays. Like the rainbow, these rays are observed toward the antisolar point -- directly opposite of the Sun. They appear to converge at the antisolar point. Look for rainbow wheels following a rain shower when crepuscular rays are seen with the setting or rising Sun.

Photo details: Camera Maker: NIKON; Camera Model: E4500; Focal Length: 22.2mm (35mm equivalent: 107mm); Aperture: f/4.1; Exposure Time: 0.0093 s (1/107); ISO equiv: 100; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Matrix; Exposure: program (Auto); White Balance: Auto; Light Source: Unknown; Flash Fired: No (enforced); Orientation: Normal; Color Space: sRGB.