In April 2006 and again in October 22 2007 this kind of high altitude rainbow went across the night sky. It was as wide as your index finger at arms lenght. It seemed to be very high mostly red and blue both times. The rainbow was distinct and travel from north to south and spanned to the horizon east and west. In 2007 I had some 20 power binoculars with me. The leading edge looked as though it was rolling like a wave. It only took 90 seconds to disappear.
Weather conditions both times was crystal clear and no wind. I dont recall a moon either night. I have never observed anything like this In the area I live near Seattle. I imagine if there had been a moon wouldnt maybe noticed it. The 2007 occurance I had a large Barbq in my backyard it amazed everyone. I brought this up because Ive been all over the earth and had never seen anything like this. i always wondered about it and contacted a local TV meteorlogist and he said he had no idea. I wondered if anyone would have an idea what could do this. It looked as though you tossed a pebble in a pond and caused a ripple across the sky in a rainbow form.

Quite possibly in Seattle that it was the Northern lights which can sometimes be seen in places where they don't normally appear.

Regards,

Bill

Ive seen northern lights here and they were green and verticle in appearance. This was just a narrow band that traveled across the sky and looked like a narrow rainbow.

The Northern Lights can appear in a wide and unpredictable variety of colors when viewed from the Earth's surface due to the particular gases being interacted with in the atmosphere.

The shape the Northern Lights take is also not always predictable; it often varies depending on the intensity of the solar winds which causes them in the first place.

Your description sounds pretty much *exactly* like the Northern Lights.

Most likely explanation is a launch out of Vandenberg. The exhaust trail can easily stretch horizon to horizon and is at sufficient altitude to catch the Sun hours after sunset. Didn't see one listed for 08/22/07, but there was one on the schedule for 08/18/07. There were several on the schedule for April '06. Bear in mind that not all Vandenberg launches are made public however.

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. . . saw something almost identical in Banff, BC (Canada) back during 1969

- turned out to be the Northern Lights (iT was mi first encounter with)

it was - as i would put iT - surrealistic . . .

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Isn't banff in AB?

I've only ever been lucky enough to see green Northern lights... see them horizon to horizon maybe 2 times a year.

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Pretty close to the BC border. There is a ski run at Sunshine where you ski back and forth between BC and Alberta.

Daddio

. . . popandbob, William - i was hikin' back then, in BC and it was 'obviously' right near the borderline of the two Provinces ;)

i also saw (for the first time then) the moon from one horizon to the other - behind the mountains . . . i felt something on mi neck - turned around - looked up and freaked - iT was SOOOOOOO big . . .

hopefully - everybody - @ some time in their lives - get to see these two phenomenon . . . it's worth the experience . . .

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I don't think it would be plane contrails because they're not high enough to be illuminated at night.

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I have seen the Northern Lights (green) one time in Kansas. Can't say I have ever seen this in Germany, but then we do have a lot of cloudy days there. There are a lot observations done regarding this phanomen, one from a satellite run by a german group, don't remember the name.
Discover channel had a show on this a few years back.

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These ribbons of color were horizontal. They stayed in a band and moved from north to south with a duration of maybe 90 seconds. The frontal area looked like a wave thru binoculars they looked like the leading edge was roiling and turbulent. Someone had mentioned a vandenburg launch on the 20th of october have no idea if it was connected this happened two days later on the 22nd. This wasnt like any northern lights ive seen. Such a narrow band of of color but high up. Ive seen northern lights here iceland and alaska and michagan most were green sheets that were verticle. The band of color at arms lenght was the width of my index finger. Thats twice Ive seen this in washington state and no where else in the world ive been. Just wanted to see if someone knew what they possibly could be. April of 2006, and again October 22 2007 I dont know where to go to check launches. These ribbons also looked liked you threw a rock in a lake and made one ripple go out.

These ribbons of color were horizontal. They stayed in a band and moved from north to south with a duration of maybe 90 seconds. The frontal area looked like a wave thru binoculars they looked like the leading edge was roiling and turbulent. Someone had mentioned a vandenburg launch on the 20th of october have no idea if it was connected this happened two days later on the 22nd. This wasnt like any northern lights ive seen. Such a narrow band of of color but high up. Ive seen northern lights here iceland and alaska and michagan most were green sheets that were verticle. The band of color at arms lenght was the width of my index finger. Thats twice Ive seen this in washington state and no where else in the world ive been. Just wanted to see if someone knew what they possibly could be. April of 2006, and again October 22 2007 I dont know where to go to check launches. These ribbons also looked liked you threw a rock in a lake and made one ripple go out.

. . . Mil. Range Test - happens all the time - rarely any answers (safe the 'mutual' / collaborative Vandenberg Test runs)

- though, an actual answer will usually never be offered due to the 'Classification'

. . . while in California - i've seen plenty of 'similar occurance' Tests in the atmosphere - always best not to Querie - just enjoy the show Sir . . . ;)

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Could it be a jett or sprite? I know these are caused by thunderstorms but can travel several miles into the atmosphere. They are most visible from high altitudes, like from a plane, or on top of a hill/mountain/ridge. Also, atmospheric optical illusions can be caused by volcano eruptions, storms, ice crystals, or polution and anything else. But like everyone else said, could be the northern lights. Sun storms also emit solar winds and radiation that can disrupt the atmosphere too. Anything is possible.

In April 2006 and again in October 22 2007 this kind of high altitude rainbow went across the night sky. It was as wide as your index finger at arms lenght. It seemed to be very high mostly red and blue both times. The rainbow was distinct and travel from north to south and spanned to the horizon east and west. In 2007 I had some 20 power binoculars with me. The leading edge looked as though it was rolling like a wave. It only took 90 seconds to disappear.
Weather conditions both times was crystal clear and no wind. I dont recall a moon either night. I have never observed anything like this In the area I live near Seattle. I imagine if there had been a moon wouldnt maybe noticed it. The 2007 occurance I had a large Barbq in my backyard it amazed everyone. I brought this up because Ive been all over the earth and had never seen anything like this. i always wondered about it and contacted a local TV meteorlogist and he said he had no idea. I wondered if anyone would have an idea what could do this. It looked as though you tossed a pebble in a pond and caused a ripple across the sky in a rainbow form.

Refracting waves {controllable with scala} caused by magnetosphere solar wind particles often occur its one of the reasons the array telescope of Porto rico Aricebo offers considerable differential particle light physicians the opportunity to assess the reliability of this particular seti programme and data.

Thats not seti. The ozone hole above australia is similiar. Different colour.

Refracting waves {controllable with scala} caused by magnetosphere solar wind particles often occur its one of the reasons the array telescope of Porto rico Aricebo offers considerable differential particle light physicians the opportunity to assess the reliability of this particular seti programme and data.

The Aircebo telescope is a large single dish telescope, not an array type.