When conditions line up
Rainbows
Sun behind you, rain in front, and a bow of colour in between.
When and where to look
Look when a shower is passing and the sun comes out low behind you: mornings and late afternoons, never at midday in summer. The sun has to be lower than about 42 degrees for a bow to appear above the horizon.
Why it happens
A rainbow is sunlight bent and reflected inside falling raindrops. Each drop sends a different colour to your eye, so the bow is always centred on the point exactly opposite the sun, and everyone sees their own.
How to catch one
- Stand with your back to the sun and look toward the rain.
- Look a little above your head’s shadow: the bow sits about 42 degrees from it.
- Check for a fainter second bow outside the first, with its colours reversed.
- Garden hoses and waterfalls make small rainbows too, on any sunny day.
Nature notifications
Wildlife, seasonal changes, weather and sky events near you.