What are 'mother of pearl' clouds as Greater Manchester skies lit up with stunning rainbow colours
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe drab grey Greater Manchester skies were lit up with awesome colour today as rare 'mother of pearl' clouds were spotted across the region.
The dazzling formations produced shimming rainbow colours - and readers have been quick to share images they captured with the Manchester Evening News.
The stunning phenomenon follows a moon halo, also called a lunar halo, being spotted in the skies in November. READ MORE: Pensioner, 75, left waiting TWO MONTHS for heating repairs could face freezing Christmas READ MORE: Little girl fell in pond and died whilst mum and gran tended to horses instead of watching her According to the Met Office, Thursday's 'nacreous' clouds form in the lower stratosphere, usually over polar regions ,when the Sun is just below the horizon.
The clouds are illuminated from below and often glow in vivid colours. In old English, the word 'nacre' means 'mother of pearl'.
