Vibrant iridescent clouds, known for their striking rainbow-like hues, appeared over parts of Victoria this weekend, captivating observers in Melbourne’s suburbs. The rare optical display occurs when sunlight diffracts around ice crystals in the atmosphere, creating a shimmering effect that’s more often seen than photographed. Residents in areas like Mount Waverley and Caroline Springs captured the fleeting phenomenon, offering a glimpse of nature’s fleeting beauty. While such clouds are occasionally spotted in Australia, their vivid colors make them a standout spectacle for skywatchers.
Rainbow clouds are not uncommon in Australia but rarely photographed, and experts say they get their colours when light is diffracted around ice crystalsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRainbow clouds shone over parts of Victoria over the weekend, in an unusual visual phenomenon known as iridescent clouds.Photographs of the spectacle were taken by onlookers in the Melbourne suburbs of Mount Waverley and Caroline Springs. Continue reading...
