rainbow

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Understand the science of appearance of different colors of the rainbow

wind bending palm trees

Know how rainbows are formed

Understand the science behind the formation of rainbows

Read Next

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered

Earth from space. Full-hemisphere views of the Earth showing Hurricane Linda at its peak approaching Baja California on 1997 September 11.

What Is Earth’s Velocity?

September 11, 2005, ozone thinning over antarctica reached its maximum extent for the year.

Is the Ozone Layer Finally Healing Itself?

Solar system illustration. (planets; sun)

Why Are Planets Round?

Remarkable new details of Pluto's largest moon Charon are revealed in this image from New Horizons' Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI), taken late on July 13, 2015 from a distance of 289,000 miles

Why Is Pluto No Longer a Planet?

Discover

January 21, 2019: Superbowl LIII will be played at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, February 3, 2019 against the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams.

What Was the Super Bowl’s First Blockbuster Commercial?

In this aerial photo, structures are damaged and destroyed October 15, 2005 in Balakot, Pakistan. It is estimated that 90% of the city of Balakot was leveled by the earthquake. The death toll in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005 is believed to be 38,000 with at least 1,300 more dead in Indian Kashmir. SEE CONTENT NOTES.

6 of the World’s Deadliest Natural Disasters

Binary Computer Code, Binary Code, Internet, Technology, Password, Data

How Does Wi-Fi Work?

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)

New Seven Wonders of the World

Fish. Lionfish. Lion-fish. Turkey fish. Fire-fish. Red lionfish. Pterois volitans. Venomous fin spines. Coral reefs. Underwater. Ocean. Red lionfish swims by seaweed.

10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Fish

Data analysis of the Super Bowl's "winningest" teams, game locations, MVP winners by position, teams with the most game losses. football, sports, infographic

From Sport to Spectacle: The History of the Super Bowl

Young man skeet shooting with airborne shell

6 Unusual Olympic Sports

rainbow: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

wind bending palm trees

Understand the science of appearance of different colors of the rainbow

Know how rainbows are formed

Understand the science behind the formation of rainbows

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

secondary rainbow primary rainbow supernumerary rainbow atmosphere aurora airglow chemical equator double refraction Snell’s law mirage refractive index halo aureole Cellini’s halo

Key People

Roger Bacon

Roger Bacon

English philosopher and scientist

Torbern Bergman, detail of an oil painting by Per Krafft; in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm

Torbern Olof Bergman

Swedish chemist and naturalist

Quiz

rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

April Showers to March’s Lions and Lambs

List

Lightning over the outskirts of Oradea, Rom., during the thunderstorm of August 17, 2005.

16 Questions About Earth’s Atmsophere and Weather Answered