Rare ‘Upside Down’ Rainbow Hangs Over Saratoga (PIC)

If you happened to be looking up into the Saratoga sky yesterday afternoon around 4:40 pm, you may have witnessed a pretty rare occurrence.  A Circumzenithal arc or an 'upside down rainbow' appeared in parts of Saratoga creating the illusion that the sky was smiling down on you.A buddy of mine captured the image on his cell phone yesterday afternoon while at a gathering for our friend's 50th birthday party.  It was perfectly centered between two condensation trails creating a colorful smile in the sky.

The scientific term for this moderately rare occurrence is a Circumzenithal arc which is are caused by ice crystals in the air. They are more common in cold climates, but still fairly rare and I can tell you that this was the first time I've ever seen one.

It was a welcome sight on a day where friends and loved ones were gathered celebrating the birthday of a truly great friend.  We couldn't help but think about two of our very best friends who weren't with us, as their lives were cut short way too soon. For us, the smile in the sky made us feel like they, indeed, were there.