Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
Night rainbow aka: "moonbow" - ever seen one?
What a remarkable sight!
We had the good fortune to happen upon a beautiful moonbow in 2010. We were driving north from Cañón el Tajo into an approaching storm. The full
moon was rising in the east, over Laguna Salada. Four offroad lights lit up the road in front of us as we bounced along the miles of dirt roads
through the pinyon forest of the Sierra de Juárez.
Somehow, my amiga, an observant passenger in the back, noticed an arc of glowing light to her left. We stopped, shut off all the lights and viewed the
incredible moonbow. It had an ethereal silvery glow, in a full arc. There was a faint red band near the base of each side.
A little research on the internet indicates that moonbows are an unusual occurrence. Conditions have to be just right: full moon, rain opposite the
moon, angle of the moon, and the moon not obscured by cloud cover.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonbow
We were lucky. This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime event, unless deliberately chasing moonbows. Now that I know what conditions to look for, perhaps
I will get lucky once again.
There is another type of moonbow, induced by spray, which is rather predictable. Yosemite Falls is a famous example. https://www.yosemite.com/yosemite-moonbow/
|
|
|
Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
Registered: 1-21-2017
Location: Here now
Member Is Offline
Mood: Abiding ..........
|
|
There's one more type of "MoonBow" I've experienced.
While in India and getting the famous "Delhi-Belly" & using a squat toilet,
If the light from the bare light bulb is JUST right, the MoonBow will show up while the major squirts are blowing !!
Note, you must be looking between your spread legs to get the FULL experience...
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
|
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
I saw one just 2-3 days ago. Couldn't really distinguish any colors, but it had the shape.
It was due to extremely humid, misty conditions. In fact, this April has had, by far, the highest humidity of any April since I have lived here on the
coast of Sonora. Wind out of the south has been relentless.
|
|
|
4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4291
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
|
|
seen it many many times (well, I spend a lot of time outdoors)
sun as well as moon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22%C2%B0_halo
[Edited on 4-23-2022 by 4x4abc]
Harald Pietschmann
|
|
|
Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
Harald,
Not dismissing the halos, which are really cool, but a moonbow is a quite different. Photographs of a moonbow can show rainbow colors. The human
observer will see a silver/light-gray arc to the west (opposite the rising full, or nearly-full, moon).
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18429
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  | Harald,
Not dismissing the halos, which are really cool, but a moonbow is a quite different. Photographs of a moonbow can show rainbow colors. The human
observer will see a silver/light-gray arc to the west (opposite the rising full, or nearly-full, moon). |
Sun and moon halos are caused by refraction of light thru ice crystals. Rainbows and moon bows are caused by refraction of light through water
droplets.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
|
|
|
4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4291
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by Maderita | Harald,
Not dismissing the halos, which are really cool, but a moonbow is a quite different. Photographs of a moonbow can show rainbow colors. The human
observer will see a silver/light-gray arc to the west (opposite the rising full, or nearly-full, moon). |
cool!
missed the wiki link
Harald Pietschmann
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13198
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Boy, you learn something new every day! Thanks.
|
|
|
The Wonderer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 69
Registered: 10-30-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
32+ years ago, for our honeymoon, me and the Mrs were on a crewed charter in the BVI's. One evening we were fortunate enough to witness a moonbow.
At the time I was unaware of such a thing, but our captain was super excited to finally see one. Have not seen one since.
|
|
|
BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
Mood: Got Baja fever!!
|
|
The only one I have seen is at Yosemite Falls.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
