- Do you know these fun facts about rainbows?
What do you know about these rainbow fun facts? Did you know Earth is the only planet that experiences rainbows?
- The shape of a rainbow isn’t an arc, but instead a full circle. From the ground, we only see a semi-circle.
- You’ll sometimes see a double rainbow, also called a secondary rainbow. A double rainbow happens when light is reflected twice in a single raindrop.
- Rainbows are associated with disease according to tribes of the Amazon basin.
- Make your own rainbow with the help of the sun and
a water hose. Stand facing away from the sun and turn on the hose. Spray the drops straight up in the air and as the sun shines through you should see a mini version of the colorful arc. - Because you’re in the air, you can see a circular full rainbow from an airplane.
- A “moon bow” is a rare lunar rainbow you can see at night.
- A “fogbow” is formed by cloud and fog drops that look almost all white, with faint colors you can see. Fogs bows are wider and larger than rainbows. This is one of the most interesting of the rainbow fun facts.
- During ancient times, Greeks and Romans thought that rainbows were paths created by the goddess of the rainbow, Iris. According to Greek mythology, rainbows are the link between humans and Gods.
- Red rainbows are called monochrome rainbows and typically seen at sunrise or sunset. Sunlight travels further in the atmosphere at this time and the shorter blue and violet scatter.
- Only the long-wavelength red colors are visible in the red rainbow.
- A “moonbow” comes from the light from the moon. All of the colors are
present, but our eyes see “white.” - The visible arc of a rainbow is always at a 42-degree angle.
- Rainbows can also be found in waterfalls, spray, and dew. (When light is see through water.)
- The world’s longest-observed rainbow was located high in the mountains of Taipei, Taiwan in 2017. The rainbow lasted for a shocking 8 hours and 58 minutes, from 6:57 am until 3:55 pm. Did you know this record of a fact for these rainbow fun facts?
- Rainbows are most common when the sun shines through the rain. This white light bends and reflects, causing all the colors to appear.
- Earth is the only planet in the solar system where rainbows occur.
- A “fogbow” is formed by fog and cloud droplets.
- Aerial photographer Colin Leonhardt photographed a circular rainbow while flying around a rain shower above Cottesloe Beach in western Australia in 2013.
- It’s thought that astronomers think it’s possible for rainbows on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. Titan has a wet surface and humid clouds and you can see the sun as well, creating the perfect conditions for a rainbow.
- You can never touch a rainbow or reach the end of it. It’s a tricky optical phenomenon meaning when you move, the rainbow does, too.
- Rainbow flags throughout history have long represented groups championing diversity, respect, and inclusiveness.
- Rainbows are made up of all seven colors that come from light including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. (Did you learn the aconym Roy G. Biv in school, too?)
- The word “rainbow” comes from the Latin phrase arcus pluvius, meaning “rainy arch.”
- Rainbows normally appear from the rain, but can also be seen in other places water drops appear such mist, fog, spray, waterfalls, and dew.
- Irish legend says there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The gold is guarded by a tricky leprechaun, but no can ever find him!
- In the Epic of Gilgamesh and, later, the Bible, the rainbow is a symbol from a deity (the goddess Ishtar and the Hebrew God) to never again destroy the Earth with floods.
- Ancient Japanese belief held that rainbows were the
bridges that human ancestors took to descend to Earth. - According to Hindu culture, the god Indra uses his rainbow bow to shoot arrows of lightning.
- You can see the average rainbow for just under an hour.
- The most rainbows on the planet occur in Hawaii, making it the rainbow capital of the world.
Did you know these rainbow fun facts since before reading this list? Let me know your favorites in the comments!