[neilep (OP)]

Dear Rainbowologists,

See this Rainbow ?


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Nice eh ?...notice how semi circular and arc shaped it is ?


But, if I was to lift the rainbow up high into the sky...would it be a complete circle ?...or are Rainbows only arc shaped ?

[paul.fr]

sort of, rainbows are a complete circle. The reason you can not see the whole circle is because it is blocked by the horizon.

looking at that picture, i also see a Supernumerary to the right and a faint alexanders band between the double rainbows...nice.

[paul.fr]

here is a quote by Dave, from another topic.

"A rainbow allways forms in a circle about 21° around the point directly opposite the sun, normally at least half of this circle should be below you and there is little rain below ground so you don't see it. It also means that a rainbow could only be directly below you if the sun was directly above you, as clouds are normally required to be above rain this is quite unlikely even if you were at the equator.

However in a plane if you are high enough up that there is enough rain 21° below the horizontal to produce a good rainbow you will see a circular rainbow although it won't be below you."

[neilep (OP)]

THANK EWE PAUL (and DAVE via PAUL).....I'd luff to see a full round rainbow !!...seems pointless that science laws should allow for full round rainbows only to deny us from seeing them for most of the time !

 *le sigh*

[turnipsock]

Ranbows normally come in twos with the one having it colours reversed. There is also a dark band between the two.

Is it possible for the moon to create a rainbow and would we see it?

If it did, would the bands of colour be the same thicknes?

[neilep (OP)]

Ranbows normally come in twos with the one having it colours reversed. There is also a dark band between the two.

Is it possible for the moon to create a rainbow and would we see it?

If it did, would the bands of colour be the same thicknes?

Yes yes...I noticed a while ago and posted this question about the colour reversal....excellent..thank ewe Turnipsock !     http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=11533.0

[Monox D. I-Fly]

However in a plane if you are high enough up that there is enough rain 21° below the horizontal to produce a good rainbow you will see a circular rainbow although it won't be below you."

I have ever seen a circular rainbow right below me, when I was standing right under a waterfall. In fact, the rainbow surrounded me like e hollow circle.