This image beautifully captures a circumhorizontal arc, also known as a fire rainbow—a rare atmospheric optical phenomenon that occurs when the sun is high in the sky (above 58° elevation) and its light passes through ice-crystal–rich cirrus clouds at high altitudes.

These ice crystals act like prisms, refracting the sunlight into its component colors, much like in a rainbow, but horizontally aligned along the cirrus cloud. The vibrant display seen here suggests plate-shaped hexagonal ice crystals were present, aligned horizontally, creating the striking spectrum of colors.

This phenomenon is often mistaken for a rainbow or even a sun dog, but a circumhorizontal arc is distinguished by its:
• Bright, flame-like horizontal appearance
• Position well below the sun (not adjacent like sun dogs)
• Visibility only during certain times of day and seasons depending on latitude

Canon 1300d with 55-250mm lens