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Credit & Copyright: Eric Houck
Explanation:
What lies at the end of a rainbow?
Something different for everyone.
For the photographer taking this picture, for example, one
end of the rainbow ended at a tree.
Others nearby, though, would likely see the
rainbow end somewhere else.
The reason is because a
rainbow's
position depends on the observer.
The center of a rainbow always appears in the direction
opposite the Sun,
but that direction lines up differently on the
horizon from different locations.
This rainbow's arc
indicates that its center is about 40
degrees to the left and slightly below the horizon, while the
Sun is well behind the camera and just above the horizon.
Reflections and refractions of sunlight from raindrops in a
distant storm in the direction of the
rainbow
are what causes the
colorful bands of light.
This single exposure image was captured in early January
near Knight's Ferry,
California,
USA.
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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: