Rainbow over the Cemetery

At teatime on Sunday 11 May 2014 a double rainbow was spotted over Ryde Cemetery.

A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that is caused by both reflection and refraction of light in water droplets in Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun.

All rainbows are full circles, however, the average observer sees only approximately the upper half of the arc, the illuminated droplets above the horizon from the observer’s line of sight.

In a “primary rainbow,” the arc shows red on the outer part and violet on the inner side. This rainbow is caused by light being refracted (bent) when entering a droplet of water, then reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.

In a double rainbow, a second arc is seen outside the primary arc, and has the order of its colours reversed, red facing toward the other one, in both rainbows. This second rainbow is caused by light reflecting twice inside water droplets.

In Ireland, a common legend asserts that a “pot of gold” is to be found at the end of a rainbow, for the person lucky enough to find it. This treasure is, however, guarded by a Leprechaun.

Source: Wikipedia
Photo: Janette Gregson

Related Website: Wikipedia entry for Rainbow
Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow