Fire Rainbows: The Optical Illusion Explained

To create a rainbow

Chapter 1

The anatomy of a sunbeam

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Chapter 2

How to make your own rainbow

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Chapter 3

Extreme and rare rainbows of the world

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Chapter 4

The history and legends of the arc

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YOUR GOAL

Master of To create a rainbow

Ch 3 · Extreme and rare rainbows of the world

galleta Rare Lunar Rainbows

When the full moon shines on Victoria Falls, the mist turns into a glowing white rainbow in the dark!

galleta The optical illusion of fire rainbows

Moonbows under the night sky

galleta Moonbows are rare rainbows produced by moonlight instead of sunlight.

Fun Fact

Moonbow colors: To the human eye, moonbows usually look completely white because our night-vision cells can't perceive color well, but long-exposure cameras reveal their brilliant colors.

Ghostly white fogbows

galleta Fogbows are colorless rainbows that form in tiny fog droplets.

Quiz

How many internal reflections inside a raindrop are required to create a double rainbow?

Gossip

Which rare rainbow would you most want to photograph?

Sunset Rainbow Maker

BETA

galleta Drag the sun to the perfect angle to learn how sunset rainbows form.

galleta The mystery of the double rainbow

Quiz

At which African waterfall can you regularly view rare nighttime moonbows?

galleta Ghostly white fogbows

Quiz

Why do moonbows usually appear white or gray to the naked human eye?

galleta Moonbows under the night sky

Quiz

What atmospheric condition is required to form a ghostly, colorless fogbow?

Quiz

How are the colors arranged in the outer arc of a double rainbow?

Quiz

What type of cloud contains the ice crystals needed to form a fire rainbow?

Quiz

Why do red rainbows form specifically during sunrise or sunset?

Quiz

What is the scientific name for the colorful "fire rainbow" phenomenon?