When direct sunlight strikes falling rain, a rainbow is seen at a point directly opposite the Sun. This photograph is of a double rainbow.
Click on image for full size
Image Courtesy of Carlye Calvin/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Rainbows
Rainbows appear in the sky when there is bright
sunlight and rain. Sunlight is known as visible or white light and is actually a mixture of colors. The sun's rays pass through millions of raindrops. A raindrop acts like a prism by bending and scattering the light to form one large rainbow.
You can only see a rainbow if the sun is behind you and the rain in front.
You can even make your own rainbow with a garden hose or water sprinkler on a sunny day.
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