

Due to its height, the peak often extends above low cloud or fog. These shadowy figures are named for the Brocken, a mountain peak in the Harz Mountains of Germany. Is a Brocken Spectre rare ‘Brocken Spectre’ Is a Rare Yet Beautiful Optical Phenomenon of a Radial Rainbow. Inspired by the impressive sight, he decided to build a device for creating clouds in the laboratory, so that he could make a synthetic, small-scale glory. The Brocken Spectre is also called a Brocken bow or mountain spectre. Wilson saw a glory while working as a temporary observer at the Ben Nevis weather station. In Goethe’s Faust, the Brocken is called the Blocksberg and is the site of the Witches’ Sabbath on Walpurgis Night.Ĭ. The appearance of giant shadows that seemed to move by themselves due to the movement of the cloud layer (this movement is another part of the definition of the Brocken Spectre), and which were surrounded by optical glory halos, may have contributed to the reputation the Harz mountains hold as a refuge for witches and evil spirits. Because the peak is above the cloud level, and the area is frequently misty, the condition of a shadow cast onto a cloud layer is relatively favored. The name derives from the Brocken, the tallest peak of the Harz mountain range in Germany. At 1,141 metres this round-shouldered beast is hardly an alpine peak, but it does have winter skiing, and it also has a wonderful old steam railway that runs scheduled services, winter and summer, up and down the mountain and across from one. The Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, effectively the only mountain range in northern Germany (although it also has a foot in the east). Since it is seen in the direction opposite the sun it is most commonly observed while airborne, with the glory surrounding the airplane’s shadow on clouds.Ī historical name for this phenomena is the Brocken Spectre or Brocken bow. The climbers amongst you will know of the Brocken Spectre, but few will know where it originates. The angular size is much smaller than a rainbow, about 5° to 20°, depending on the size of the droplets. The Brocken Spectre is also called a Brocken bow or mountain spectre. The circular rainbow observed by Fawcett is often seen in conjunction with the Spectre and is referred to as a glory.

Conversations with Eckermann, 1823-1832Ī glory is an optical phenomenon produced by light reflected toward its source by a cloud of uniformly-sized water droplets. The Brocken Spectre, first described in 1780 by Johann Silberschlag, derives its name from the Brocken peak in the Harz Mountains of Germany.The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (Marlowe).Timeline of Cards, Cartomancy, and Tarot.
Brocken spectre full#
All the Year Round on Cagliostro-Part 2 In reply to Blue Straggler: I did once see a true brocken spectre by moonlight, descending Coire na Ciste to the CIC Hut with a full moon behind me and mist.All the Year Round on Cagliostro-Part 1.
