Breathtaking An Iridescent Cloud Sighted Over Costa Rica

The colorful iridescence of the cloud left many residents in awe and thousands took to social media, posting photos and videos of the odd luminous formation in the sky.

An iridescent cloud phenomenon was witnessed in Costa Rican skies on Tuesday afternoon.

ABC News reports that the “mysterious” cloud was seen far and wide across Costa Rica, in San Jose, Parrita, Pavas, Escazu and Hatillo. “It’s like a sign of God”.

His father said: “He immediately grabbed the camera and started taking video and photos”.

“We were just so amazed”, said Joey Petit of Escazu, whose 11-year-old son recorded the unique formation.

Instagrammer Kevin Otway posted his pictures with the caption: “IlluOminous perturbations”, while Natalia Delgado added: “Definitely something I’ve never seen!”

Amid debate between experts and laymen whether the cloud is either a religious or natural phenomenon, one famous American maintained long ago that the world had room for both. “It’s like a sign of God”.

As for the stunning rainbow-like effect, Eladio Solano, a meteorologist with Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute, said that the colors appears when the sun’s light is refracted by water droplets and ice crystals. It is observed occasionally when storm clouds form.

This is a pileus cloud, sometimes called a “cap” cloud because of the way it caps the top of the cumulus cloud.