Rainbow Fragments on Spider Webs

Photographer: Nancy Calltharp
Summary Authors: Nancy Calltharp; Jim Foster

The entangled pearl necklaces pictured above are actually droplets of dew on a spider web. The subtle colors displayed here resulted when sunlight illuminated the web, creating a multitude of rainbow fragments. Note that, in general, the smaller dew drops, residing on the thinnest silk strands, are nearly colorless. With these smaller drop sizes, wave interference acts to diminish coloration because colors tend to overlap one another. Photo taken at Squaw Creek near my home in Mound City, Missouri, on September 21, 2013.

Photo Details: Camera: SONY DSC-HX300; Lens: 4.3-215mm f/2.8-6.3; Focal Length: 214.7mm; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250); ISO equiv: 80.

• Squaw Creek, Missouri Coordinates: 40.081542, -95.251553
• Related Links
  • Water Drops and Dandelions
  • Spider Web Dew Drop Size
• Student Links
  • Webweavers
• Earth Observatory
  • Aerosols and Clouds

[8/19]ENC09282019