Rare rainbow cloud spotted in Indonesia leaves viewers asking if it's AI or real

A vivid rainbow cloud filmed over Jonggol, Indonesia, drew widespread attention online. Viewers marvelled at the rare iridescent display and its surreal natural beauty.

In Short

• The clip captures pink, green and blue bands along one cloud
• As the camera tilts up, the colours shimmer and appear animated
• Viewers called the formation a masterpiece and questioned if it was real

A stunning “rainbow cloud” spotted over Jonggol, Indonesia has left the internet mesmerised, with several calling the sight almost too surreal to be real.

The viral clip, shared on X by user The Figen, showed a massive cloud formation edged with vivid streaks of colour, ranging from bright pinks and greens to deep blues, arching across the sky like a painted halo.

The phenomenon, often referred to as a cloud of iridescence, appeared to glow against the otherwise clear blue backdrop, creating a dramatic, almost otherworldly visual.

As the camera panned upward, the colours seemed to shift and shimmer along the cloud’s edges, giving it a fluid, almost animated appearance. The effect made the cloud resemble everything from a giant rainbow wave to a floating, luminous canopy stretching across the sky.

Watch the video here:

Online, viewers were quick to express awe at the rare sight. Several users described it as looking like a “masterpiece in the sky,” observing how perfectly blended and vibrant the colours appeared. Some said the formation looked so surreal that it felt almost artificial, as if digitally enhanced.

Others recognised the phenomenon, pointing out that such “rainbow clouds” were a natural occurrence caused by sunlight interacting with water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere, though they admitted that seeing one this vivid was still rare.

A number of users shared that while they had heard of or seen images of iridescent clouds before, witnessing something like this in person would feel completely unreal.

There were also more imaginative takes, with some comparing the cloud to a giant jellyfish floating in the sky, while others said it resembled a celestial painting unfolding in real time.

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