Moonbow

A moonbow is a very special kind of rainbow that shines in the night sky. Unlike regular rainbows, which are made by sunlight, moonbows are created when soft moonlight shines through tiny water drops, just like in rain or near a waterfall. They always appear opposite the Moon from where you are looking.

Moonbows look softer and lighter than regular rainbows because the Moon gives off much less light than the Sun. This makes the colors hard to see with our eyes, so moonbows often seem white. But if you take a picture with a camera, you can see the beautiful colors hidden inside!

Moonbows are special because they do not happen often. You need a bright full moon, a dark sky, and water droplets in just the right place. Places where moonbows are often seen include Niagara Falls in New York, Yosemite National Park in California, and Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe. They are also seen in the cloud forests of Costa Rica and in wet areas of Hawaii like Kauai and the Big Island.