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Light rays from the sun enter suspended raindrops in the sky after a shower. The
light enters the droplets and total internal reflection occurs, and the rays are
reflected outward, close to the direction back to the sun again. In the reflected
light, the colors are slightly spread out.
So, if the sun is in front of you, or to the side of you, then the light rays that are
reflected and come out of the raindrop are not headed in your direction, and you
can't see them.
What else can I help you with?
Are rainbows always in the east?
Rainbows are not always in the east; their position depends on the angle of the sun and the observer's location on Earth. Rainbows are generally seen in the direction opposite the sun, so if the sun is in the west, the rainbow will be in the east.
Can a rainbow in the sky be seen from space?
No Rainbows are caused by sunlight glinting off tiny water particles in the sky, bouncing the light back towards the observer. In other words, any time you see a rainbow directly in front of you, the Sun is directly behind you, and your shadow points at the center of the circle the rainbow is describing.
Where were rainbows discovered?
Rainbows were not "discovered" in a specific location; they are a natural optical phenomenon that can be seen in the sky when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by water droplets in the air. The appearance of a rainbow depends on the position of the observer in relation to the light source and the water droplets.
Are rainbows always in the sky?
Rainbows are caused by sunlight glinting off tiny water particles in the sky, bouncing the light back towards the observer. In other words, any time you see a rainbow directly in front of you, the Sun is directly behind you, and your shadow points at the center of the circle the rainbow is describing. Since there aren't always water droplets doing this, the answer is "no".
At what times of day is it possible to see rainbows?
Rainbows can be seen when there is sunlight and rain simultaneously. Typically you can see rainbows when the sun is low in the sky, so early morning or late afternoon are the best times to see rainbows.
Are rainbows always in the east?
Rainbows are not always in the east; their position depends on the angle of the sun and the observer's location on Earth. Rainbows are generally seen in the direction opposite the sun, so if the sun is in the west, the rainbow will be in the east.
Are there rainbows in every countries?
Yes, rainbows can be seen in every country where sunlight and rain coexist. The conditions for seeing a rainbow include sunlight, rain or water droplets in the air, and the observer's position relative to the sunlight and rain.
Can a rainbow in the sky be seen from space?
No Rainbows are caused by sunlight glinting off tiny water particles in the sky, bouncing the light back towards the observer. In other words, any time you see a rainbow directly in front of you, the Sun is directly behind you, and your shadow points at the center of the circle the rainbow is describing.
How common are rainbows and what factors contribute to their frequency in the sky?
Rainbows are a common natural phenomenon, but their frequency depends on several factors. The most important factor is the presence of sunlight and rain or water droplets in the atmosphere. The angle of the sun and the observer's position also play a role in determining how often rainbows are seen in the sky.
Where can you find facts about rainbows?
There are several articles online about rainbows (e.g. Wikipedia and How Stuff Works). Basically, rainbows are the scattering of sunlight by water droplets, which diffracts the light into a band of colors according to frequency (red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet). A rainbow is actually a CIRCLE, as can be seen from an aircraft. Normally, only the part above the horizon can be seen. A rainbow does not have ends -- the apparent location will change as the observer moves. So there is no pot of gold as the Irish legend suggests.
Where were rainbows discovered?
Rainbows were not "discovered" in a specific location; they are a natural optical phenomenon that can be seen in the sky when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by water droplets in the air. The appearance of a rainbow depends on the position of the observer in relation to the light source and the water droplets.
Have you ever seen a magical scene with rainbows and leprechauns dancing together"?
No, I have never seen a magical scene with rainbows and leprechauns dancing together.
Are rainbows seen in deserts too?
If cloud and atmospheric conditions are right, yes, rainbows are sometimes seen in deserts. They most commonly are sen following a rain shower.
What can be seen from earth's orbit other than the moon?
The moon's phases can be seen from the earth, but not by an observer on the moon. Similarly, the earth's phases can be seen from the moon, but not by an observer on the earth.
Where are rainbows mainly found?
Rainbows are formed when light passes through particles or droplets of water. They are normally seen after rainfall, therefore, they can really be seen anywhere in the world where there is rain.
Are rainbows always in the sky?
Rainbows are caused by sunlight glinting off tiny water particles in the sky, bouncing the light back towards the observer. In other words, any time you see a rainbow directly in front of you, the Sun is directly behind you, and your shadow points at the center of the circle the rainbow is describing. Since there aren't always water droplets doing this, the answer is "no".
What prevent rainbows from being seen as a complete circles?
Earth does.
