Atmospheric diffraction
![Sunrise animation (fifteen seconds/frame) with diffraction rings caused by water droplets and only visible when the sun is near the horizon](/Images/godic/202412/15/C_solarcorona20031901.gif")
![Solar diffraction ring](/Images/godic/202412/15/SolarDiffractionCorona1901.jpg")
![Lunar diffraction ring](/Images/godic/202412/15/Lunarcorona1902.jpg")
Atmospheric diffraction is manifested in the following principal ways:
However, if the object has a diameter greater than the acoustic wavelength, a 'sound shadow' is cast behind the object where the sound is inaudible. (Note: some sound may be propagated through the object depending on material).