© Claudia Hinz

Mt. Zugspitze, Bavarian Alps, Germany

Latitude: 47° 25' 16'' N

Longitude: 10° 59' 11'' E

15 November 2014 1430 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards NE

Image P/S code: P.13.0

Image I.D.: 4127

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  Glory, Brocken spectre and fog bow

  A glory, a Brocken spectre and a fog bow together with supernumerary bows are seen in this photograph taken from Mt. Zugspitze, Bavarian Alps, Germany on the German-Austrian border.

  Cloud envelopes the summit at an altitude of 2962 m, but it is thin enough for the sun to cast the observer's shadow onto the cloud. The large shadow, distorted by perspective, is known as the Brocken spectre.

  Around the observer's shadow, and centred on the point directly opposite the sun - the antisolar point - is the sequence of coloured rings known as the glory. The coloured rings are due to the refraction, reflection and diffraction of light by small water droplets in the cloud. The arrangement of colours is similar to that in a corona.

  Outside of the glory is a fog bow together with supernumerary bows. The fog bow is also sometimes known as a cloudbow, mistbow or white rainbow. It is a primary rainbow but it typically appears as a white band, lacking the spectrum of colours since it is formed by very small water droplets.  

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  © Claudia Hinz
  Mt. Zugspitze, Bavarian Alps, Germany
  Latitude: 47° 25' 16'' N
  Longitude: 10° 59' 11'' E
  15 November 2014 1430 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards NE
  Image P/S code: P.13.0
  Image I.D.: 4127