Rare circular rainbow captured by skydivers over Nottinghamshire
Group of skydivers observe a full-circle rainbow during a jump over Nottinghamshire; scientists explain why the phenomenon is seen from the air.
A rare circular rainbow was captured on video by awestruck skydivers over Nottinghamshire, England, as they free-fell from about 10,000 feet above the countryside. The group, taking part in a Skydive Langar jump, spotted the ring and steered their parachutes for a closer view.
Instructors Jan Zackl and Laura Hampton described the moment as a rare treat and a unique sight. Zackl said, "We spent pretty much the whole flight looking at it. It was very cool and a very special thing to be able to share. All skydives are special, and the sky is a beautiful place to be, but this one was unique." Hampton said, "We were awestruck when we saw it. It’s really rare – we get to see small ones from the plane, but that’s never so clear or defined."
Experts explain that all rainbows are full circles, but from the ground they appear as arches because the Earth blocks the rest. BBC Weather presenter Kaye Forster said, "Rainbows are actually full circles. From our viewpoint, we only get to see an arch as the rest of the rainbow is blocked by the ground." Such visibility is more common for observers at altitude, including pilots and skydivers, who can see the whole ring when the sun and moisture align correctly.
The circular rainbow is typically spotted by pilots and skydivers due to the height they fly. The display captured during a descent over Nottinghamshire illustrates how sunlight and moisture interact at altitude, creating a nearly perfect circle that extends into the cloudbank as onlookers below may only glimpse an arc.
The group was skydiving with Skydive Langar when the instructors noticed the phenomenon. The moment was filmed on September 13, with the circle extending into the cloudbank as the jump team looked on in disbelief. Langar staff described the sight as a rare treat even by the standards of their frequent skydives, which can produce unusual weather effects at altitude.
Experts caution that while such displays are striking, they depend on the angle of the sun, the presence of moisture in the air, and the observer’s line of sight. The ring forms around the antisolar point and becomes more visible the higher the observer is above the ground. For skydivers, the altitude offers an uninterrupted view that is rarely possible from the ground, making these moments especially memorable for those in the air.
As footage of the event circulates, scientists and meteorology enthusiasts point to the same atmospheric conditions that make full-circle rainbows possible at altitude: sunlight refracts through countless water droplets, with the observer positioned opposite the sun. When the geometry aligns just so, a complete circle emerges, even as the horizon and clouds obscure parts of it from the ground.
The event underscores how the sky continues to offer surprises that challenge common perceptions of weather and optics. For the skydiving community, such moments reinforce why participants repeatedly describe flights as awe-inspiring experiences—moments that blend natural science with human wonder, suspended high above the countryside.
