Rare fogbow sighting in western NSW captured by amateur photographer
Consensus Summary
A rare fogbow, an optical phenomenon similar to a rainbow but created by much smaller moisture droplets, was spotted in western NSW at Cobar. Amateur photographer Marie Johnson captured the sighting on her farm, initially mistaking it for a white rainbow. Fogbows are uncommon in Australia, particularly in warmer, drier regions like western NSW, where fog conditions are less frequent compared to the eastern parts of the state. The phenomenon is more likely to occur in southern parts of the country and during winter, when the sun is lower on the horizon. The fogbow faded away after about half an hour, leaving Johnson with a unique and treasured photograph. Experts from the Bureau of Meteorology explained that fogbows require specific conditions, including the alignment of the sun, fog, and observer, and are even rarer in lunar form, which occurs at night under precise celestial conditions.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A fogbow was seen at Cobar, western NSW
- Fogbows are made up of fog droplets that are 1,000 times smaller than rain droplets
- Fogbows are uncommon in Australia, especially in warmer, drier areas like western NSW
- Fogbows are more common in southern parts of the country and particularly in winter
- Marie Johnson, an amateur photographer, captured the fogbow on her farm in western NSW
- The fogbow faded away after about half an hour
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan Howe explained fogbows are uncommon in Australia due to fog conditions being less frequent in western NSW compared to eastern parts of the state
- Fogbows are more likely in southern parts of the country and particularly in winter, due to the sun being lower on the horizon
- Lunar fogbows, which occur at night, are incredibly rare and require specific conditions including the moon at a certain angle and no clouds in the sky
- Marie Johnson initially thought she had captured a 'big white rainbow' and posted photos on social media, leading others to identify it as a fogbow
- Marie Johnson spotted the fogbow while heading into town for work on a foggy morning
- Ilana Cherny, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, stated that fogbows require the sun, fog, and observer to be perfectly aligned
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC mentions Jonathan Howe as the Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist explaining fogbows, while the Guardian cites Ilana Cherny in the same role
Source Articles
Fogbow makes rare appearance in western NSW
A combination of cold weather and moist conditions combine to produce a fogbow in an unlikely place.
This optical illusion is rarer than a rainbow and tricky to see in Australia. So what actually is a fogbow?
Visible when the sun is behind you and the fog is ahead, conditions have to be ‘right in the Goldilocks spot’ to see a fogbow Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast When Marie Johnson woke up one foggy morning, she just had a feeling it would be eye-catching. “It was first thing in the morning, when I was heading into town to work. I just thought I’ll quickly call in, get a photo of the fog with the old house,” says Johnson, who lives on a historic farm in Cobar, in outback