Unusual Rainbow Appears in Sunlit Fan in Presenzano, Italy

NASA News Releases reported on an unusual rainbow captured on October 20, 2026, at sunset in Presenzano, Italy, which appeared to have the sun in the front, contrary to how rainbows function.

Assembled News DeskOctober 20, 20261 min read

Editorial illustration of an unusual sunlit fan of light appearing near hills during sunset in Presenzano, Italy. — AI-generated illustration

According to NASA News Releases, the image featured in the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) depicts an unusual rainbow. This rainbow is not complete, showing up only as a sunlit fan, which the source noted is not uncommon. The most peculiar aspect, according to the explanation, is the apparent location of the Sun, which seems to be positioned toward the front, just beneath some hills, but this is incorrect. Rainbow formation requires a backward reflection from falling rain, meaning the Sun must actually be situated behind the observer. In this specific instance, gaps between clouds near the setting Sun permitted rays to traverse the entire sky, creating an unusual occurrence known as anticrepuscular rays. The photograph was taken on October 20, 2026, during sunset in Presenzano, Italy, and the seemingly reversed rainbow was observed while hanging laundry.

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