i saw one the other day on my way to work...amazing...just wondered how this happens ?
2006-11-25 02:33:45 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Occasionally, a second, dimmer secondary rainbow is seen outside the primary bow. Secondary rainbows are caused by a double reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops, and appear at an angle of 50°–53°. As a result of the second reflection, the colours of a secondary rainbow are inverted compared to the primary bow, with blue on the outside and red on the inside. The dark area of unlit sky lying between the primary and secondary bows is called Alexander's band, after Alexander of Aphrodisias who first described it.
Hope this helps!
2006-11-25 02:36:52 · answer #1 · answered by Suffolk Lady 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Rainbows are produced by internal reflections of light within a set of rain drops, the reflections are at 42 degrees from you horizontal plane of view.
Once in a while there are raindrops at the right rosition (relative to you) which will cause a second rainbow to appear, one at 42 degrees and one about 58 degrees (I think)
No two people ever see the same rainbow, each person sees a rainbow produced by different raindrops.
2006-11-25 02:40:04 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I live in NE Pennsylvania, no large bodies of water, but very near the pocono mountains. I don't know how rare they are, there were 2 this past fall. Or perhaps you mean a reflection rainbow (see the wiki link below). Those happen over a body of water and are very rare.
2016-05-23 01:14:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw this once too! In Canada, it was soo fab. I'm guessing the same way a single rainbow occurs.
2006-11-25 02:42:38 · answer #4 · answered by makelovenothate 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Through double reflection of rain drops
2006-11-25 02:37:24 · answer #5 · answered by evertalall 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a phenomena that occurs only when it rains twice in one place.
its usually done to keep those fecking leprechauns away from the gold.
2006-11-25 02:38:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are very pretty. I saw one a few years ago. It just seemed to go on for ever.
2006-11-25 02:44:59 · answer #7 · answered by Marti G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it just does
2006-11-25 02:35:53 · answer #8 · answered by Yehh Mate..X 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
how much were you drinking mate??
2006-11-25 02:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by stevi c 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Had you been drinking ?
2006-11-25 02:36:07 · answer #10 · answered by Scotty 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋