Rainbow over lake

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

What is the key to a colorful rainbow?

Colorful sky above mountains

THE MOST FAMILIAR RAINBOW

The most familiar type rainbow is produced when sunlight strikes raindrops in front of a viewer at a precise angle (42 degrees). Rainbows can also be viewed around fog, sea spray, or waterfalls.

Sky with clouds

THE RAINBOW DOESN'T EXIST

A rainbow is an optical illusion—it does not actually exist in a specific spot in the sky. The appearance of a rainbow depends on where you're standing and where the sun (or other source of light) is shining.

Rainbow over mountains

THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW

The colors on a primary rainbow are always in order of their wavelength, from longest to shortest: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

Sky with clouds and rainbow

RAINBOWS NEAR AND FAR

Some scientists think rainbows also exist on Titan, one of the moons of the planet Saturn. Titan has a wet surface and humid clouds. The sun is also visible from Titan, so it has all the ingredients for rainbows.