Moonbows

[inzilbeth]

I was on the road very early this morning, a good hour before the first hint of dawn appeared in the sky, as I had to take two steers to the butcher. It was pouring with rain but the moon was almost a full one and it wasn't obscured by the rain clouds. Suddenly, up ahead, I saw a rainbow, or rather what i thought was a rainbow except of course there was no sun. Then I realised it could only the moonlight which have caused it to form. It's obvious really, but this is the very first time I've ever seen what is apparently called a moonbow, inspite of, over the years, spending a good deal of time outdoors after dark . The photo is a googled one but the beam looks exactly like the one I saw.

It got me wondering just how common or otherwise these things are and how often other people see them.

 

Comments

[shirebound]

I've never heard of that! How wonderful that you got to see something rare and magical.

The moon was amazing this morning.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I was really quite thrilled to see something I never had before. It was so unexpected.

The moon is amazing here tonight as well. That's odd too, isn't it!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I've never seen a moonbow but you can bet I'll be watching for one from now on should I find the conditions right. And I bet it's rare to get the right combination of rain and clearing and a bright enough moon for it. You've very fortunate!

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

The next time it's raining with a full moon, I'll be watching out for one too. It's funny that I never even thought about the possibility of something like this until today.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I haven't seen one since I was a young child; that was in late winter, and the air was full of ice particles. We were heading home one evening and my parents stopped the truck and had us all get out so we could see it unimpeded by the windshield.

Julia, they were not much for "but it's cold as an excuse.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Now I'm really getting to be convinced they must be a rare sight if you've only ever seen one. I would have liked to stop and just enjoyed it for a bit but time was pressing [isn't it always!]

[wizard42745.livejournal.com]

I have never seen it - but I sure would love to see one

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm certainly going to be looking out for them again from now on.

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's amazing!! I didn't know this phenomenon and certainly never saw anything like it. Lucky you!

(As a matter of fact, I just a minute ago finished a snip about the first rising of the moon; obviously, the bunny now insists that a moonbow needs to appear in the story. )

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Lol! I certainly think one of these will be appearing in a story of mine one day too. I'm glad to know you're writing.

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

If we write them, we're probably going to get comments on what on earth we're thinking, making up such an unlikely thing. We'd better include a link to the photo. :-)

>>I'm glad to know you're writing.<<

Thanks! I'm NaQua'ing this month: 100 words a day is as much as I can possibly handle (let's not think about the 'quality' part of NaQua), as I'm notoriously slow. (Trying to continue the 'First Elves' story I started last November.)

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

100 words a day doesn't sound too bad, though I bet you have plenty of days when even that is impossible. I know I do.

Good luck!

[silivren-tinu.livejournal.com]

Wow! I've never seen a moonbow before! I didn't even know something like that exists. I guess it can only happen when the moon is full or almost full - otherwise, I don't think there'd be enough light to cause the rainbow effect. That must have been such a fascinating sight!

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about them either, and, looking at the replies here, they're obviously anything but common. Now I'm beginning to feel very lucky!

[silivren-tinu.livejournal.com]

I think seeing such a moonbow must really be a very special experience!

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm beginning to think you're right!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

How beautiful - I had not only not seen a moonbow but I hadn't even realised that they existed.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Same here! It was very exciting to make a discovery like that!

[harrowcatliz.livejournal.com]

Sounds wonderful but I had never heard of it before either. Definitely plot bunny material. The moon was beautiful tonight too, even in London.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Yes, definitely going to have to write about one now! I'm glad you get to see the moon clearly even in London. I hate it that the permanent orange glow cuts out the stars in cities.

[harrowcatliz.livejournal.com]

Me too. Did some great star-gazing at Robin Hood's Bay in the Summer. One of the good things about this time of year is that my parents live in a village without street lights so I get good views there, apart from the glow over Coventry. The moon travels by my right shoulder as I drive back.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Robin Hood's Bay at night must be glorious. I'm lucky not to have street lights either, though I do get the distant glow of Swindon on the horizon which I could do without!

[suzll.livejournal.com]

Oh my word, that is gorgeous! I didn't even know that could happen!

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Neither did I! It was a very exciting surprise. I'll be looking out for more from now on.

[vilwarien.livejournal.com]

How beautiful. I didn't know about them before either. You can feel very lucky that you saw one.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised at how rare these must be so, yes, I do feel very lucky now!

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

That is a most glorious photo. I've never seen a moonbow, and didn't even know they existed. You were sooooooooooooooo lucky to see one.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm really going to keep my eyes open for them in the future. It's extraordinary how rare these obviously are.

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

I'm going to keep my eyes open for them too, but I doubt very much I'm ever going to see one.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

That's incredible! I've never heard of anything like that before.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Isn't it wonderful to discover something new like this at our age!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

it is! I'll be telling all my friends and looking out for one now!