Why can one see a rainbow only when ur back is towards the sun?

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Why can one see a rainbow only when ur back is towards the sun?

2007-11-20 00:05:31 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology

3 answers

A rainbow is sunlight being reflected off raindrops. Not only is the rainbow on the opposite side of where you are from the sun, but you can only see rainbows when when the sun is fairly low in the sky.

The answer about seeing a rainbow in rings around the sun is a different phenomenon. Those are called "sun dogs" and not rainbows.

2007-11-20 00:17:28 · answer #1 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋

The magnitude of light from the sun tends to outshine any rainbow in its direct foreground. Pretty hard to outshine the sun.

2007-11-20 08:11:33 · answer #2 · answered by omnisource 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋

that's not true. i've seen a rainbow ring around the sun before.

2007-11-20 08:08:16 · answer #3 · answered by supahjennjenn 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋