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Credit & Copyright: Matt BenDaniel
Explanation:
Have you ever seen a moonbow?
Just as
rainbows are lit by the
Sun, moonbows are lit by the
Moon.
Since the
Sun
is so much brighter than the
Moon,
sunlit
rainbows are much brighter and more commonly seen than
moonbows.
Pictured above is a moonbow stretching over
Salt Pond Bay in
St. John,
Virgin Islands.
Sailboats are visible on the left.
To bring out the moonbow, an exposure of 30 seconds was needed,
making the picture appear as if it was taken during the day.
Since moonlight is itself
reflected sunlight,
the colors are nearly the same.
Both
rainbows and moonbows are created by
light being scattered inside small water droplets,
typically from a nearby rainfall.
The raindrops each act as miniature
prisms, together creating the picturesque
spectrum of colors seen.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: rainbow
Publications with words: rainbow
See also: