Newbie 0 #1 May 12, 2003 this weekend i was on a solo just chilling looking at the view and whatnot, when i noticed a weird rainbow'y type thing going on. I was looking down at about a 45 degree angle and saw what i can only describe as the centre, or "end" of a rainbow. If you imagine like a circular paper target thing, with the bullseye in the middle and the rings expanding out from that, thats what i saw, but the rings and bullseye were rainbow coloured and the whole thing was pretty big. It was sunny, but there were rain clouds lurking and in fact i dropped into one after watching this rainbow thing for a while and got a few drops of water on my face, so it was perfect rainbow conditions if you know what i mean. Anyway anyone seen something like that before? I'm sure plenty have, but whats the explanation for it? Did i just see a rainbow but from a new persspective? Whatever it was it was a beautiful sight to see "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 5 #2 May 12, 2003 Happens all the time to me. If the sun is just right, usually high in the sky, you will see this "rainbow". If you are close enough to the water vapor (cloud or mist) then you will even see your own shadow. What causes this is the same thing that causes a rainbow you see from the ground. Light refracting off the water vapor to your eyes position. Chris Schindler edited to add: So yes! You did fall through the center of a rainbow. Got any skittles? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #3 May 12, 2003 Usually you will see your shadow, canopy and all, in the middle of a rainbow circle. I forget what the phenomena is called. I'm guessing you were still in freefall so no canopy. Just don't tell anyone you were near clouds.Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #4 May 12, 2003 You saw a glory, they are pretty common, but nevertheless pretty. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=396055;search_string=glory;#396055 For some more stuff and discussion. If you see one when in solo freefall, you can't really fail to fall thru it. -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 5 #5 May 12, 2003 "Glory"......that's it. Man I was racking my brain trying to think of that. Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #6 May 12, 2003 Quote What causes this is the same thing that causes a rainbow you see from the ground. Light refracting off the water vapor to your eyes position. I was reading up on them a few weeks ago. Turns out to be a bit more complicated than a regular rainbow, though similar. The colored rings aren't just due to refraction, they're due to the polarization of the light. From what I read, they are not well understood, but in the center the light is polarized one way, and at the edge a different way. Unlike a rainbow, a glory can only be seen exactly opposite the sun (ie the same spot your shadow is), and can only be seen within about 10 degrees off of that. Course no skydivers in america ever see them, right? Cause chances are you'd have to be pretty close to a cloud to see one of those. And we never go near clouds, right? Eh, maybe they're visible from 2000 feet away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #7 May 12, 2003 You know clouds and how they can just "appear" over a dropzone just after you get out of the plane ____________________ Say no to subliminal messages Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,030 #8 May 12, 2003 Quote"Glory"......that's it. Man I was racking my brain trying to think of that. Chris Also known (mostly in Europe) as a Brocken Spectre, after the Brocken, a peak in the Harz mountains of Germany, where they are often observed by climbers. And the physics of their formation is quite different from that of a regular rainbow. Each observer sees it centered about his or her own head. Since they look so much like the halos on medieval paintings of saints, there is some speculation that this is where the idea of a halo originated.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 5 #9 May 12, 2003 I still like the falling through rainbow explanation. Cuz there might be a pot of gold down dar laddy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #10 May 12, 2003 "Cuz there might be a pot of gold down dar laddy! " Nearly always the case Chris, buts the DZO's wallet. Its probably easier searching for the elusive end of the rainbow, than trying to prise open the 'darkroom' though.... -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #11 May 12, 2003 A rainbow is caused by the refraction of light through water. Usually, you are on the ground, the cloud is above and the sun is at an angle. Thus, you see an arc or rainbow. If you are above the cloud and the sun is behind you, then you will still get an arc from every angle as you look down, thus a complete circle. Cool, ain't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoshi 0 #12 May 12, 2003 we always call the shadow dogs. if you are in the right spot you can see it in free fall in the plane and under canopy.. with the way rainbows actually work (the fragmenting of light) they will always be on the opposite side of the sun from you (hence you can never reach the end of one) but when in the air and the prism has a full canvass (not being cut off by the ground which is the "usual" way we see rainbows) then you can go thru it...looks like it, but as soon as you go thru it its gone because with the way water refracts light to form the prism effect you can only see it from the side the light source is comming from.... pretty cool to see huh??? I guess my fine art photographyu degree finally paid off -yoshi _________________________________________ this space for rent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,030 #13 May 12, 2003 Quote we always call the shadow dogs. if you are in the right spot you can see it in free fall in the plane and under canopy.. with the way rainbows actually work (the fragmenting of light) they will always be on the opposite side of the sun from you (hence you can never reach the end of one) but when in the air and the prism has a full canvass (not being cut off by the ground which is the "usual" way we see rainbows) then you can go thru it...looks like it, but as soon as you go thru it its gone because with the way water refracts light to form the prism effect you can only see it from the side the light source is comming from.... pretty cool to see huh??? I guess my fine art photographyu degree finally paid off -yoshi Think you've got your definitions mixed up. A "dog" is a bright spot that appears to either side of the sun (sun-dog) or, less often, the moon. They are sometimes a part of a halo. They are seen in thin clouds that are either very high or in high latitude regions, caused by refraction from hexagonal ice crystals in the cloud acting as prisms. A glory is not a rainbow or a sundog, it is a different phenomenon altogether.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #14 May 13, 2003 ive been trying to explian this to some of my Nevada brethren who havent SEEN WEATHER, yet.... the desert doesnt do much for clouds! I like the fact that inside your cirular rainbow the clouds seem WHITER then on the outside of the rings! from the center its your shadow inside the whitest of white clouds sorrounded by the spectrum. its pretty awesome!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,030 #15 May 13, 2003 There was a beautiful sun-dog at Z-Hills on the morning of April 19. Someone said it was a good omen. Then we went and did the 2-point 120 way, so I guess it was!... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #16 May 13, 2003 All rainbows are seen exactly opposite the sun... but on the ground - the planet keeps you from seeing where the middle is. Rainbows and glory's are the same thing, except one gives you a full view. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,030 #17 May 13, 2003 Quote Rainbows and glory's are the same thing, except one gives you a full view. t Incorrect.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #18 May 13, 2003 QuoteIncorrect. Well, you have peaked my interest. Care to explain the difference? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #19 May 13, 2003 I'm not going to begin to explain these phenomena, but this site was pretty cool..... http://www.polarization.com/rainbow/rainbow.html-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #20 May 13, 2003 This http://store.doverpublications.com/0486232050.html is a wonderful book (Science From Your Airplane Window) which explains glories and lots of other neat stuff. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,030 #21 May 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteIncorrect. Well, you have peaked my interest. Care to explain the difference? See the site referenced above - the photos make it obvious. But in a nutshell, a glory is a much smaller entity than a rainbow (the angle it subtends at the observer is way smaller).... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
0013 0 #22 May 13, 2003 it is still the same science behind it, light hits water, water breaks white light to many colours, done... (Edit: water isn't written as whater)-------- www.youtube.com/l0013 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #23 May 13, 2003 Quoteit is still the same science behind it, light hits water, water breaks white light to many colours, done... Well, thats not quite true. The cause of a glory is not the same as the cause of a rainbow. They're related, but not the same. The colors of a glory are NOT caused simply by refraction. It's all about polarization. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #24 May 13, 2003 QuoteUsually you will see your shadow, canopy and all, in the middle of a rainbow circle. I forget what the phenomena is called Is that called a Sun Dog? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,030 #25 May 13, 2003 QuoteQuoteUsually you will see your shadow, canopy and all, in the middle of a rainbow circle. I forget what the phenomena is called Is that called a Sun Dog? Nope - see previous post Here... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
