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The impossibly low rainbow: The mystery continues

New information has come to light about a strange rainbow spotted by one of our readers, and the puzzle continues as to what is causing this unusually “low bow”

29 September 2021

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Guy Cox

I saw a strange rainbow, at the wrong height compared with a normal one. It is supposedly impossible to see a rainbow at any other angle than around 42 degrees, but the arc of my “low bow” looked like 21 degrees. Can anyone explain? (continued)

Ed: The previous letters about this “low bow” (31 July) concluded that it must have appeared when the sun was high in the sky. However, Guy Cox, who spotted the low rainbow (pictured), has clarified that it occurred in the late afternoon, when the sun was close to the horizon. He has photographed a “normal” rainbow at a similar time and season, so the sun’s elevation can’t account for the effect. The mystery continues. Any ideas?

 

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