Crystal clouds on a distant world may shimmer like sun dogs, hinting at exotic optics shaped by heat, wind, and starlight.

This makes it possible to spectrally scan the sunlight with an accuracy of a few picometers. In addition, VTF selects individual polarization states, i.e. the oscillation direction of the light.

Researchers have developed a novel method to detect and study how ice forms in mixed-phase clouds, significantly boosting scientists' ability to forecast weather and model climate change.