Moonbow

In a fairy tales books we often see unicorns, fairies, magic dust, and also a moonbow. Fairies and magic dust may not exist and unicorns may found rarely. And as unicorns, a moonbow is uncommon but real true.  Aristotle, Ben Franklin, and John Muir wrote about moonbow, and they do, in fact, exist, not just in the pages of dusty old books but out in the real world. If you have been lucky enough to see one you know how very real they are. Not to be shown up by daytimes rainbow, the moonbow is just one more of darkness's beauties.

“The rainbow occurs by day, and it was formerly thought that it never appeared by night as a moon rainbow. This opinion was due to the rarity of the phenomenon: it was not observed, for though it does happen, it does so rarely… The colors are not easy to see in the dark… The moon rainbow appears white…” — Aristotle, Meteorologica, circa 340 B.C.

Moonbow or lunar rainbow is a rainbow produced by light reflected off the surface of the moon, which is happen at night. Human eyes can’t discern the different colors in the darkness so it often appears to be white. The colors of a moonbow appear on a long exposure photograph.

Apparently moonbows are sometimes elusive, the conditions have to be just right to see them. Moonbows are most easily viewed when the moon is near to full. There is a place where the appearance of moonbows is fairly common, in the waterfalls. The two most popular are Cumberland Falls and Yosemite Falls. For those produced by waterfalls, the moon must be low in the sky, lower than 42 degrees, and the sky must be dark. And of course there must be rain falling opposite the moon. This combination of requirements makes moonbows much more rare than rainbows produced by the sun. The mist from the waterfalls has the same effect on the moon that rain has on the sun. If there is moisture opposite the moon, a moonbow is created.

Now, you don't necessarily have to be near a waterfall to see a moonbow. A good rain or a misty night will do too. If after a good rain in the dark night and the moon is full and bright, go outside. Maybe if, just maybe, you’re lucky enough, you can witness one of the most uncommon phenomenons of the nature. Seeing moonbows create a mist in its beauty in the dark sky and this is the nearest we can get to a fairy world.

Regards,

Kezia Mamoto