moonbow

American  

[moon-boh] / ˈmunˌboʊ /

noun

1. a rainbow caused by the refraction and reflection of light from the moon.

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Etymology

Origin of moonbow

First recorded in 1890–95; moon + (rain)bow

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Explanation

A moonbow is a natural phenomenon that occurs when moonlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed through water droplets in the air. To the naked eye, it appears like a faint white or silvery arc in the night sky. A moonbow is like a regular rainbow, but because moonlight is much dimmer than sunlight, it appears fainter, and our eyes usually can't perceive the full spectrum of colors. Long-exposure photographs, however, can reveal those colors. Moonbows are relatively rare. They require a bright, full or nearly full moon that is low in a dark sky, along with rain or mist opposite the moon. Places with misty waterfalls, such as Yosemite Falls in California and Victoria Falls in Africa, are great places to see moonbows.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

moonbow

Hawkins first visited the park that same year and became mesmerized by its beauty — particularly after seeing a moonbow in 2011.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024

Another, Eric Krapil, 28, from Laurel, Md., shared a full-arc moonbow photo from the night before, captured on his cellular phone.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024

“That was,” he continued, “the most pathetic moonbow I’ve ever seen.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024

Now, Smits — both an avid photographer and outdoorswoman — occasionally pushes the envelope to find more elusive moonbow shots.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024

It was pale, opalescent; here shimmering with the hues of the moonbow; here dusked with violet shadow, but, for the most part, pale, opalescent.

From The Divine Adventure Volume IV by Fiona Macleod

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