Double Bow in Colorado Rockies

Provided and copyright by: Joel Nahrgang
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster, Joel Nahrgang

This jaunty double rainbow was captured on the decent from Long's Peak Trail in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The camera is facing toward the antisolar point (opposite direction from the Sun). Not only is the secondary bow always fainter than the primary bow (partially because sunlight is somewhat extinguished by a second reflection within the raindrops), but it's colours are also reversed from those of the primary bow. The secondary bow is also almost twice as wide as the primary. Photo taken late in the afternoon on September 3, 2003.

Related Links:

• Atmospheric Optics
• Sky Photography
• A Field Guide to the Rainbows
• Color and Light in Nature