Double Pink Rainbow Over Glen Ashley, South Africa

March 11, 2013

Doublepinkbows(2)

Photographer: Jacques Joubert 
Summary Authors: Jacques Joubert; Jim Foster

March 2013 Viewer's ChoiceThe photo above showing a high-arching pink rainbow was captured at sunset near Durban, South Africa. The camera is facing toward the anti-solar point. Like the setting Sun, the rainbow colors we're familiar with acquire red or pink hues once the Sun dips close to the horizon. This is because as the Sun sets (or rises) the increased path length sunlight takes through the atmosphere acts to scatter out the green, blue and violet colors from our view. The partially formed secondary bow  having a radius of approximately 51 degrees can be seen about 9 degrees outside of the primary bow. Note the dim anticrepuscular rays (right side of primary and secondary bows) as well as the collection of reddened light near the center of the primary bow. Photo taken on October 22, 2012.

Photo Details: Canon 5d MKII camera; 16-35mm lens; f/2.8; ISO 200; 1/2 sec. exposure; photo taken at 5:54 p.m.

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