Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
written by a professional astronomer.
2024 August 6
A large storm cloud is pictured hovering over a flat landscape with
telephone poles. The background sky is blue. The cloud appears orange
at the bottom, yellow at the top, white in the middle, with dark gray
overtones all around. Please see the explanation for more detailed
information.
Storm Cloud Over Texas
Image Credit & Copyright: Laura Rowe (Used with permission)
Explanation: What makes this storm cloud so colorful? First, the cloud
itself is composed of millions of tiny droplets of water and ice. Its
bottom is almost completely flat -- but this isn't unusual. Bottom
flatness in clouds is generally caused by air temperature dropping as
you go up, and that above a specific height, water-saturated air
condenses out water droplets. The shape of the cloud middle is caused
by a water-droplet-laden column of air being blown upward. Most
unusual, though, are the orange and yellow colors. Both colors are
caused by the cloud's water drops reflecting sunlight. The orange color
in the cloud's middle and bottom sections are reflections of a nearly
red sunset. In contrast, the yellow color of the cloud's top results
from reflection of light from a not-yet-setting Sun, where some -- but
less -- blue light is being scattered away. Appearing to float above
the plains in Texas, the featured impressive image of a dynamic
cumulonimbus cloud was captured in 2021 while investigating a tornado.
Tomorrow's picture: galaxy three
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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
NASA Science Activation
& Michigan Tech. U.
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