It's probably bad form to comment on my own blog, but rather than rewrite the thing, let me point to a page at the Web Site du Jour that does a better job of explaining the wondrous thing that we saw: http://www.atoptics.co.uk/droplets/irid1.htm , on "iridescent clouds." Some of the descendant nodes (click on "More images" on the left side of the page) contain images that at least come close to resembling what we saw, although I think that our display was more colorful, longer lasting, and probably more extensive than what's in the photos. Anyway, if you get to see something like this in the sky, blessed are ye, and post a photo.
Bill-on-the-Hill
A better web page
It's probably bad form to comment on my own blog, but rather than rewrite the thing, let me point to a page at the Web Site du Jour that does a better job of explaining the wondrous thing that we saw: http://www.atoptics.co.uk/droplets/irid1.htm , on "iridescent clouds." Some of the descendant nodes (click on "More images" on the left side of the page) contain images that at least come close to resembling what we saw, although I think that our display was more colorful, longer lasting, and probably more extensive than what's in the photos. Anyway, if you get to see something like this in the sky, blessed are ye, and post a photo.