?The red and gold hues are easily explained ? they?re caused by the sunrise hitting the cloud at exactly the right time. But what?s causing the dark patches up the top of the fireball, and why is it so much lighter underneath? This is a result of two different altitude clouds mixing at just the right moment, and coming together to form the moody structure.
Different coloured clouds mix between high and low altitudes all the time, but because they?re usually shades of grey, our eyes can?t often distinguish them. It?s only when sunlight hits them like this that their hues become so pronounced.?
