A fire rainbow, also called a circumhorizontal arc, was captured near North Fork Mountain in West Virginia on August 2, 2026.

The phenomenon occurs when sunlight passes through horizontally oriented hexagonal ice crystals in cirrus clouds, refracting the light and creating a colorful band parallel to the horizon.

A Sun elevation of at least 58 degrees is required for the arc to be visible, a condition met in the West Virginia sky on the recorded date.

Photographer Christa Harbig recorded the event, and NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day program featured the image.

Circumhorizontal arcs are relatively rare because they depend on specific cloud geometry and solar angle, making them an uncommon sight.