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What is a rainbow cloud, and why was there one in Boston Wednesday?

The story behind the cloud that perplexed city-goers on social media.

https://twitter.com/TailgatersPizza/status/732974734426673152

A rainbow cloud passed over Boston Wednesday afternoon, an anomaly that led social media users to ask themselves: what the heck is up with that?

https://twitter.com/chrissachrissa/status/732982230075727872

Clouds like the one seen in Boston today are colorized by water droplets or ice crystals in the air, according to Earthsky.org. These crystals/droplets reflect and spread out light in the sky, which is what makes the rainbows.

The rainbow cloud was singular, a little fish-shaped, and very exciting. At least to those who saw it. People posted photos of it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, alternately wondering how it got there and freaking out about the fact that it was there at all.

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Consider it a hump day treat.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFjkcYiteGK/?taken-by=mrteej34

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