
This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. The phenomenon of rainbowlike bands around a shadow on a cloud is also commonly observed from airplanes flying in sunlight above a cloud layer. The observer’s shadow is often surrounded by coloured bands or rings that are the result of the diffraction of sunlight by water droplets in the cloud. The phenomenon is often observed on mountain peaks but is recorded in literature with special reference to the Brocken, a peak in the Harz Mountains in Germany where the Brocken spectre sometimes produces spectacular effects. The apparent magnification of size of the shadow is an optical illusion that occurs when the shadow on relatively nearby clouds is judged by the observer to be at the same distance as faraway land objects seen through gaps in the clouds.

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BROCKEN SPECTRE HOW TO


Due to its height, the peak often extends above low cloud or fog. The meaning of BROCKEN SPECTER is an optical phenomenon sometimes seen from the summit of mountains or from an aircraft when the observer is between the sun and a mass of cloud, the figures of the observer and surrounding objects being seen projected on the cloud much enlarged and often encircled by rainbow colors. These shadowy figures are named for the Brocken, a mountain peak in the Harz Mountains of Germany. Is a Brocken Spectre rare ‘Brocken Spectre’ Is a Rare Yet Beautiful Optical Phenomenon of a Radial Rainbow. Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions. The Brocken Spectre is also called a Brocken bow or mountain spectre.Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.
