Something I'd never seen before

[canetoad]

Yesterday morning. We are a month before winter but for the past two weeks there has been an enormous high pressure system sitting still just below Australia. It doesn't look like it's moving anytime soon.

Weather has been stunning; chilly, misty mornings but sunny days. There were still some mist patches hanging about when I got to the beach. After a while I could see more mist rolling across the ocean and what looked like the start of a rainbow formation. Left and right sides were starting to form then they joined up.

But it wasn't a rainbow. It was white light. It acted like a rainbow and after fifteen minutes it grew dim and disappeared.

I've had to join two photos together, it was THAT big. Contrast tweaked a little.



I've never seen anything like it. Anyone know what causes this?
On Edit: I've seen solar halos in the past. This is not one of those. The morning sun was directly behind me.

[canetoad]

1. Answering my own question

The are called 'Fog bows' or ghost rainbows. Below is a good article describing the phenomenon with some stunning pix.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-03-23/fogbows-ghost-rainbows-weather-phenomena-seen-in-queensland/102123726
"They are fairly common in some parts of the world, but you wouldn't say they're common in Australia and the reason for that is the angle of the sun," said the ABC resident meteorologist, Tom Saunders.

[LastDemocratInSC]

2. Two questions

What was the local time, and what direction was the camera pointing?

[canetoad]

3. Local time

Was about 8:30am. Camera pointing SW.

[Old Crank]

4. Nice

Great thing to see.

[AllaN01Bear]

5. interising.

[canetoad]

6. Just when I thought

I'd seen it all.