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Primary
and secondary bows curve low over the North Sea. Andrew
Easton imaged the scene at Ness Point, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK in
April '06. The early afternoon sun was about 34° high and the
primary bow top was therefore 42-34 = 8° above
the horizon. The same can be estimated from the known
8 - 9° separation between the reds of the primary and secondary bows. The
sky inside the primary is lit by rays refracted through raindrops
at more than the minimum deviation angle.
In contrast, the absence of rainbow rays in Alexander's
dark band between the primary and secondary blackens
the sky. Image ©Andrew
Easton, shown with permission. |
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