Slovakia Rainbow

Referred by: Klara Balogh, Solar Astronomical Association, Slovakia
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster, Klara Balogh

This splendid double rainbow was captured in the southern Slovakian village of Tvrdosovce, in July of 2006. After a brief but intense late afternoon summer storm, this primary and secondary rainbow decorated the eastern horizon. The darkened area between the bows is called Alexander’s Dark Band. Much of the sunlight reflected and refracted in water droplets between the angles of 46 and 51 degrees is scattered from our view. Thus, the area of the sky in between the primary and secondary bows is darker than the region outside of them.

Related Links:

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