Everyone is familiar with the rainbow that appears after a rainstorm in the middle of the day, but this optical phenomenon falls into a broader and more diverse category. The sun is not the only one that can cause rainbows, the moon can too, but the phenomenon is much rarer.
This will also interest you
[EN VIDÉO] Mysterious lights shine from the night sky The La Silla Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert is expected to benefit from…
In fact, there are several types of rainbows: the double rainbow, the white rainbow, the pink rainbow, but also the solar rainbow (the most common) and the lunar rainbow.
For a rainbow to appear, humidity and light must be at the right angle: the arc always forms in the opposite direction of the sun. It is always the reflection of a light source on water droplets floating in the atmosphere that creates the impression of an electric arc. Most often it is the sun’s rays that are the cause of the phenomenon after a rainstorm or storm. But the moon can have the same effect if it is low enough in the sky (less than 42°), which is what we call a lunar rainbow.
A phenomenon that is particularly visible in photos
The phenomenon therefore occurs at night and is observed much less frequently than the solar arc. And this is for two reasons: At the time of its occurrence, there are only a few observers outside to observe it. But that’s not all: the moonbow is significantly less luminous than the solar bow and usually goes unnoticed.
The moon actually emits much less light than the sun, resulting in duller colors. But during a full moon, rainbows can be spectacular without reaching the intensity seen during the day. In fact, the lunar rainbow is a phenomenon that can be particularly admired in photos when the camera is set to long exposure.
Colors are difficult for the human eye to recognize in the middle of the night and the result is rarely impressive to the naked eye. The phenomenon can be seen anywhere in the world, but the most beautiful photos have been taken near large waterfalls because of the high humidity in places like Niagara Falls between Canada and the United States.