Rainbow At Night

Hey, this is OkamiZaku. I am currently at vacation in Florida. A thunderstorm happens up here about every afternoon or night, but last week, something strange happened.

My dad, grandpa, grandma, and stepmom went to the races. The races end about 12:30 or so. While I was at home, in the middle of the night, a terrible thunderstorm broke out. Back at the races, a bad thunderstorm broke out over there as well. While they were in the car, someone (dad, grandpa, grandma, and stepmom) spotted a rainbow in the middle of the night! Luckily, my stepmom videotaped the event. As soon as I can put stuff like that on the internet, I could show it to you.

Still, ver wierd. 0_o

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[edit on 12-7-2007 by sanctum]

There must of been a good enough light source ot the right angle relitive to you.

Could it of been floodlights from the races you mentioned? Would like to see the vid, you just got to sign up to you tube or something, usually free and up load it (presuming its digital)

Originally posted by OkamiZaku
My dad, grandpa, grandma, and stepmom went to the races.

I didn't go to the races, so I wouldn't know. NOTICE.

Originally posted by OkamiZaku

While I was at home

I was at home. NOTICE.

OK, anyway, I saw the video on the video camera. It was in the parking lot inside the car. I didn't see any light except for the lightning. It did'nt just apear when the lightning flashed, either. 0_o wiiiiiiieeeeeerrrrrrduh

This could be what's called a "Moonbow". They are apparently very rare.

The moon must be bright and not too high, the sky must be dark else the faint bow will not be visible and there must be rain in the direction opposite the moon

I read about these just the other day, it's apparently one of the best natural phenomenoa you can see. - Link

Hope this sheds some light...

All you need to create a rainbow are rain drops and a light source. The light source must be approximately behind you - notice how you will never see a rainbow looking into the sun? The light hits the raindrop, is refracted, then reflected, and refracted a final time as it exits the raindrop. All this separates the white light into its constituent colours.

I don't quite understand what you mean by 'it didn't just appear when the lightning flashed, either.' At night, unless there is a strong moon, you will not be able to see a rainbow. Whenever it rains, there is a rainbow, because there are usually many many light sources, such as street lights. But these rainbows are far to faint for our eyes to see. I'm going to guess that the rainbow you saw was caused by an additional bolt of lighting that was behind you.
You think it was a coincidence that you saw a rainbow during an electrical storm?

Originally posted by watch_the_rocks
I don't quite understand what you mean by 'it didn't just appear when the lightning flashed, either.' At night, unless there is a strong moon, you will not be able to see a rainbow. I'm going to guess that the rainbow you saw was caused by an additional bolt of lighting that was behind you.

Your answer was right there. When the lightning flashed, yeah, I could see the rainbow. But I could also see it when it was dark. No, I doubt there was any source of light besides the lightning and the moon that was at in the partial clearing of the storm, because my stepmom, the one who taped it, said there was no artificial light source (flood lights, etc.) as they were parked a pretty good distance from the race car stadium. If the lights from the stadium was the case, we would have to be pretty darn close to the stadium. ;-P

My little brother suggested it had something to do with the camera (the camera light was on, maybe?) but no, there was no flash.

Xeros, thanks for the idea. But wouldn't it have to be a completly clear sky> Oh yes, and watch_the_rocks, I could see a rainbow if I looked up at the sun. Yeah, I know exactly waht you are thinking, too, I bet.


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rofl.