Recent Rainbow - three supernumerary bows

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In summary, a "Recent Rainbow" is a rainbow that appears within a few hours without rain. "Three supernumerary bows" are additional rainbows that can be seen on the inner and outer edges of a Recent Rainbow. These rainbows occur due to diffraction of sunlight through water droplets, which may be smaller and more numerous than traditional rainbows. Recent Rainbows are not necessarily rare, but they are less common than traditional rainbows and are more likely to occur in humid areas near bodies of water. They can be captured in photographs, but may appear faint and subtle compared to traditional rainbows.
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Andy Resnick
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Sunday afternoon storms yielded a rainbow:

DSC_3867_zpspjzn6s33.jpg


Visible are three supernumerary bows inside the main one; this interference pattern is the result of unusually uniform raindrop sizes.
 
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nice :)
 
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Cool!
 
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Dang me!
 
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Very cool! Yesterday we just had a full double rainbow over the city. Magic!
 

1. What is a "Recent Rainbow"?

A "Recent Rainbow" refers to a rainbow that has appeared in the sky within the past few hours. It is different from a traditional rainbow that typically appears after a rainstorm, as it can occur without rain or even in clear skies.

2. What are "three supernumerary bows" in relation to a Recent Rainbow?

"Three supernumerary bows" are additional and faint rainbows that appear on the inner and outer edges of a primary rainbow. They are caused by diffraction of sunlight through water droplets and are more commonly seen in Recent Rainbows due to the smaller droplet size.

3. Why do Recent Rainbows occur without rain?

Recent Rainbows can occur without rain because they are formed by the diffraction of sunlight through water droplets, similar to traditional rainbows. However, these droplets may be smaller and more numerous, making them invisible to the naked eye but still able to create a rainbow effect in the sky.

4. Are Recent Rainbows rare?

Recent Rainbows are not necessarily rare, but they are less common than traditional rainbows. They are more likely to occur in areas with high humidity, such as near bodies of water, and during certain times of day when the sun's angle is low.

5. Can Recent Rainbows be captured in photographs?

Yes, Recent Rainbows can be captured in photographs, but they may be more difficult to see in the image compared to traditional rainbows. They may appear as faint and subtle arcs of color, rather than a bright and distinct rainbow.

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