Glory imaged by Jonathan Shock (Jonstraveladventures) during his return journey from July's China eclipse. ©Jonathan Shock, shown with permission.

The previous OPOD showed the results of forward going light scattering and diffraction - a pollen corona. Scattering backward (ie. the light is directed back towards the source) produces the multiringed glory that chases and scintillates across the clouds as the aircraft thunders onwards.

Unlike the corona that is made by any objects - water drops, pollen grains, lumps of coal - the glory must have transparency. The light passes through cloud droplets with at least one internal reflection plus propagation by 'surface waves'.

Where was Jon sitting?

More:
    Glories
    Their formation
    Light scattering