Corona Observed Over Reno, Nevada
June 27, 2017
Photographer: Greg Gardella
Summary Authors: Greg Gardella; Jim Foster
Shown above is a particularly colorful corona as observed over Reno, Nevada, right after a storm cleared the area. Though this image was taken with a cell phone camera, it looks as it did to my naked eye. However, most coronas aren't as vivid as this one. Coronas result when sunlight is diffracted by cloud droplets, most often in mid-level clouds. These droplets impede rays of sunlight in such a way to generate successive interference rings. Note that smaller droplets cause larger (wider) rings. Always use caution when looking anywhere near the Sun. Photo taken on February 4, 2017.