Atmospheric Optics

Atmospheric Optics is the fancy name for light and colour in the atmosphere, such as rainbows, halos, shadows, and mirages. This page will try and explain in simple terms how these beautiful phenomena occur, and where and when to look for them. Many wonderful things go unnoticed every day simply from not knowing where to look. Along the way this site will branch out to related fields such as weather phenomena, and light outside the atmosphere - the heavens above.

Rainbow

Water Drops
Rainbows
Rainbow FAQ
Green Clouds
Glories

Halos

Ice Crystals
Halos
Sundogs or Parhelia
Sun and Light Pillars

Shadows

Shadows
Crepuscular Rays
Opposition Effect

Mirages

Mirages
Green Flash
Lantern Effect

Scattering

Scattering
Blue Skies and Red Sunsets
Cloud Colour
Blue Mountains
Whiteout

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous
Glitter Path
Observing
Books
Links
Shop

Schneider family web pages at kulgun.net
Antarctica | Family History | Science | Atmospheric Optics | Plasma Physics
About me and this web site

Copyright © 1995-2006 Darryn Schneider for all content and images unless otherwise noted