Clouds that display patches of vivid, shifting color, often pastel greens, pinks and purples, near their edges where they are thin enough for individual light waves to diffract around small, uniformly sized water droplets or ice crystals. Cloud iridescence typically appears close to the sun, within about 30 degrees, and is most easily seen when the sun itself is hidden behind a thicker part of the same cloud, preventing its glare from washing out the delicate colors.
Facts
Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceUsually pastel colours, sometimes very vivid or mingled, similar to mother-of-pearl. 1 Sources
1. Cloud iridescence, Wikipedia
AppearanceQuote, Appearance
The colours are usually pastel, but can be very vivid or mingled together, sometimes similar to mother-of-pearl.
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