Are there rainbows on other planets and what would the spectrum be?

Answer 1

For there to be rainbows there has to precipation in some form and a light source. The spectrum would be based on the light source's color.

Answer 2

To answer the second part of your question first--the spectrum of a rainbow on another planet would be the same. The spectrum is simply the different frequencies of light--specifically the ones we see. And these properties of light are universal.

Some planets would not have rainbows. They would be impossible on a planet like the moon--there is no atmosphere--hand very unlikely on Mars (almost no atmosphere and even less water vapor.

Here's why. A rainbow is formed when light from the sun is refracted (bent) by passing through water droplets. Each light frequency will bend at a little different angle, scattering the light and forming the rainbow. So you have to have water (or some similar substance) in the atmosphere to form a rainbow.

It's very likely that rainbows could form on some planets--Venus, for example-, and perhaps the gas giants (Jupiter, etc.) and perhaps on a moon or two of those planets that also have atmospheres. Whether or not this actually happens isn'tknown. It would require droplets of water or another chemical in the atmosphere to refract the light. but its certainly possible.

Answer 3

It depends on the planets atmosphere, and the presence of something to refract that light. Rainbows in our sense would be made from a fine mist of water (the Rain in Rainbow) . So if there was a fine mist of water and a significant light source, then yes, there would be a rainbow. As to colour, it would probably depend on the light source.

Answer 4

A rainbow is simply white light refracted. The spectrum of light is the same everywhere in the universe. Therefore it would look the same. boring answer but true.