Image of the Day… MoonBows !!!

Moonbows!

A moonbow is like a rainbow, but fainter, caused by moonlight.

View larger. | Moonbow over the planet Venus.  Rob Ratkowski captured this image in Hawaii in 2004.  Visit Rob Ratkowski Photography.

Orion was setting when Rob Ratkowski captured this rare moonbow in Hawaii in May 2004. The planet Venus is the bright object inside the bow. A moonbow is like a rainbow, but fainter, caused by moonlight. Les Cowley at the great website Atmospheric Optics says:

Moonbows are rare because moonlight is not very bright. A bright moon near to full is needed, it must be raining opposite the moon, the sky must be dark and the moon must be less than 42º high. Put all these together and you do not get to see a moonbow very often! To the unaided eye they usually appear, as in the small image, without color because their light is not bright enough to activate the cone color receptors in our eyes. Nonetheless colors have been reported and might be seen when the moon is bright.

Moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Resort by Janice Foley

Bottom line: Moonbows!

SOURCE:::: earthskynews

Natarajan

One thought on “Image of the Day… MoonBows !!!

  1. trulachristine's avatar Trula Christine October 19, 2014 / 5:09 pm

    This is so amazing. Last night I was looking at the stars and I wondered if somehow rainbows were possible at night time. This morning I stumbled across your post. Thanks so much for sharing! Sure hope I get to see one of these beauties someday.

Leave a comment