moonbows
Night arc spectrums
A moonbow is a rainbow produced by moonlight rather than sunlight.
The physics are identical—light refracting through water droplets—but the dimmer light source makes moonbows fainter and often appears white to the naked eye, though cameras with long exposures reveal their colors.
They occur near waterfalls or during rain when the moon is bright and low: We stayed up to see the moonbow at Cumberland Falls.
Colorless arc in vapor
- arcCurved line segment
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
spectrum · Victoria Falls · Yosemite · light scattering · lunar halo · night sky
Atmosphere without clouds
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
- rain showerLight, brief precipitation
- moonriseMoon appearing over horizon
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
water droplets · light pollution · visibility · nocturnal · elevation · positioning · timing · lunar phase
Prophetic indicator
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
Hawaiian mythology · good fortune · wonder · mystery · ethereal · magic · enchantment · celestial
Prolonged light capture
- tripodStabilizing support structure
- night photographyCapturing images after dark
- camera shakeUnwanted movement during exposure
- astrophotographyImaging celestial objects
shutter speed · DSLR · focus · composition · timelapse · stacking · noise reduction · chase
fogbow
Colorless arc in vapor
- arcCurved line segment
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
diffraction · spectrum · Victoria Falls · Yosemite · light scattering · lunar halo · night sky
clear sky
Atmosphere without clouds
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
- rain showerLight, brief precipitation
- moonriseMoon appearing over horizon
humidity · water droplets · light pollution · visibility · nocturnal · elevation · positioning · timing · lunar phase · precipitation
omen
Prophetic indicator
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
supernatural · Hawaiian mythology · good fortune · wonder · mystery · ethereal · magic · enchantment · celestial · otherworldly
long exposure
Prolonged light capture
- tripodStabilizing support structure
- night photographyCapturing images after dark
- camera shakeUnwanted movement during exposure
astrophotography · shutter speed · DSLR · focus · composition · timelapse · stacking · noise reduction · chase · location scouting
- natural wondersnorthern lights, aurora borealis, auroras, rainbows, Great Barrier Reef