Rare 'Fire Rainbow' Phenomenon Captured Over West Virginia Skies

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NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for August 2, 2026 features a striking atmospheric optical phenomenon known as a 'fire rainbow,' photographed over West Virginia. Despite its name, the event is unrelated to fire or rainbows, and is technically called a circumhorizontal arc. It is caused by sunlight refracting through flat, hexagonal ice crystals suspended in high-altitude cirrus clouds. The APOD program, run by NASA, publishes a new space or astronomy-related image each day accompanied by an explanation from a professional astronomer. The featured image highlights how Earth's own atmosphere can produce visually spectacular optical displays.

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NASA APOD Features Buck Moon Rising Alongside Belt of Venus

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