A moonbow is a rare and stunning natural phenomenon that occurs when moonlight is refracted and reflected off water droplets in the air, creating a colorful arc of light in the night sky. Similar to a rainbow, moonbows are formed when light is dispersed into its various colors, but they are much rarer and more elusive, as they require specific conditions to occur. Moonbows are typically seen in areas with high humidity and clear skies, and are most commonly observed during the full moon. They can appear in a range of colors, from pale white to vibrant shades of red, blue, and purple. Moonbows are a breathtaking example of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and are a reminder of the incredible diversity and complexity of our planet.

Source: Wikipedia

  • demonquark@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Isn’t that just a rainbow. I mean it’s the same effect. Just with a different light source. Seeing as the light source is not specified in the word rainbow, I don’t see the need to a different word.

    • kmkz_ninja@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      It isn’t even a different light source. It’s just making a trip to the moon before it reaches us instead.

    • dustyData@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      In person they’re quite distinct. Very faint and dulled colors. It’s the same effect but it looks different enough, along with the different context of the experience, that they could be considered different phenomena.

  • Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net
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    9 months ago

    I’ve actually seen one of these things. I was on night shift up at one of the mines in the middle of winter. Perfectly clear night. Super cold. The one I saw was pale but it was entirely massive and formed a halo around the moon

    • SagXDOP
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      9 months ago

      You are so lucky. I hope I also see one of these things.

  • harmonea@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    There are parks in California and Kentucky where these appear consistently and predictably in the waterfalls for a couple of hours each month. Really pretty, like the faintest ghost of a rainbow.

    Photos don’t really do it justice, because most photos of them are long-exposure that crank the colors up; in person (at least when I saw it) it was pale grey in the night.

  • expatriado@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    most of the time they are very faint, and you wouldn’t notice they are there, i have captured them using 30 sec long exposures on my camera, they bright ones are rare

  • kozel@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I’ve seen it once and it was out-worldish (even though not as spectacular as the fotos at wikipedia).

    Also TIL about dewbow and I want to see it.