# Rainbow turning the wrong way? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925 "2008-11-15T23:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925/1 "2008-11-15T23:46:11Z")
This morning, I saw a rainbow segment which turned the wrong way I expected it to go. It not only was between the sun and I (I expect to be between the sun and the rainbow), but it turned away from the sun, as opposed to around it. Like this: ) \* instead of this: ( \* Is this normal? What causes this? It goes against what little I understand about rainbow formation. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925/2 "2008-11-16T00:22:35Z")
It could have been a [parhelia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925/3 "2008-11-16T00:35:58Z")
Parhelia aren’t arcs, so it couldn’t be one of them. There are several ice crystal arcs, however, that do curve away from the sun. For instance, the **circumzenith arc**. As the name implies, it’s centered on the zenith, not the sun: [http://www.weatherscapes.com/album.php?cat=optics&subcat=circumzenith\_arc](http://www.weatherscapes.com/album.php?cat=optics&subcat=circumzenith_arc) The **Upper Tangent Arc** and the **Lower Tangent arc** are two others: > **[Frequent Halos](https://atoptics.co.uk/blog/frequent-halos/)** > > This article explores the frequent occurrence of halos in the sky, more common than rainbows, and delves into the different components that make up these captivating atmospheric phenomena. The \*\*Parry Infralateral Arc is another. You can also see some others on this page. I’ve seen the Parry arc. It looks uncannily like a rainbow, but in a completely wrong place: > **[Infrequent Arcs](https://atoptics.co.uk/blog/infrequent-arcs/)** > > This article explores rare atmospheric optical phenomena, including infrequently seen arcs such as the circumzenithal arc and the supralateral arc, captivating those lucky enough to witness them. From elusive gems like the Wegener arc to the... ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925/4 "2008-11-16T03:15:47Z")
Certainly not parhelia and not circumzenith. Upper tangent could be the one. I have no idea if that is reasonable for my location, time and weather (Puerto Rico, just before 7 am, warm and messy). It didn’t look to be right above the sun, though. More like to a side. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925/5 "2008-11-16T21:18:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Certainly not parhelia and not circumzenith. Upper tangent could be the one. I have no idea if that is reasonable for my location, time and weather (Puerto Rico, just before 7 am, warm and messy). Ice Crystal Halos have been visible in the hot desert – it only requires that the ice crystals be present somewhere, and cirrus clouds in the upper at,mosphere are cold enough. It doesn’t matter that it’s warm and messy down below where we are. If it’s off-center, it could be the Infralateral Arc, as I’ve mentioned, or a Subhelic Arc. Both of these, however, are _below_ the sun. There are a lot of weird arcs due to pyramidal ice crystals anbd other weird forms, but they’re much rarer. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rainbow-turning-the-wrong-way/472925/6 "2008-11-17T18:20:23Z")
Ok. It took me some time and brain sweat, but I just figured how to read that chart. Infralateral Arc looks like the most possible one. Pretty cool. Thanks. In one hand is cool to think I am seeing something truly rare, but there is also the fact that a ton of people might have also seen it, but just never noticed they were seeing something unusual. In fact, it was my wife who pointed it out to me and said “look, a pretty rainbow”