Optical Phenomena Educational Resources

Shed Some Light on These Visual Wonders

Photo from space of the Earth's horizon illuminated with colorful streaks of light. Parts of the spacecraft's solar arrays are visible in the foreground.

Optical phenomena are events caused by light that are visible to the naked eye. They occur when light and charged particles from the sun interact with our planet and moon. Awe-inspiring eclipses and auroras, as well as the simple beauty of sunrises and sunsets, are all optical phenomena. Zoom out with satellite imagery to get a unique view of these wonders.

Image of a rainbow seen in the sky over land.
What Causes a Rainbow?
Rainbow clouds seen over a mountain
What Are Rainbow Clouds?
Drawn image of a rainbow.
Rainbow Simulator
Image of the sun in space.
What is the Solar Cycle?
Drawing of stonehenge
What Is a Solstice?
An eclipse of the sun seen from space.
Seeing a Solar Eclipse From Space
An aurora seen from space with a satellite.
What is an Aurora?
Illustration of a cutout mountain landscape with colorful streaks of light resembling the aurora.
Aurora Art!

Publication Date: September 12, 2025