Title: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: John9929 on July 19, 2008, 01:54:09 pm
I was out this morning trying to image the ISS at 01:30BST but was hampered by cloud some of the time.
When I turned round to bring in the camera and tripod I saw my very first Moonbow, and what a beauty
it was. Very highly coloured just like a "daytime" bow but illuminated by moonlight instead. I nearly died off
when I saw it.
(http://i33.tinypic.com/30cnhjs.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/20jh1u9.jpg)
When I turned round to bring in the camera and tripod I saw my very first Moonbow, and what a beauty
it was. Very highly coloured just like a "daytime" bow but illuminated by moonlight instead. I nearly died off
when I saw it.
(http://i33.tinypic.com/30cnhjs.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/20jh1u9.jpg)
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: martinastro on July 19, 2008, 03:36:26 pm
Nice shots John!. Those moonbows are so rare and amazing. Last night had the perfect conditions for their formation. Quite a show!
Love the wide shot over the shed with the precip curtains falling.
Love the wide shot over the shed with the precip curtains falling.
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: Roman White on July 19, 2008, 07:10:11 pm
Good work. I have never seen the rainbows at night.
John, how bright it was?
And could anyone say, how often such rare events occure? What special circumstances are important for a moonbow arrive?
John, how bright it was?
And could anyone say, how often such rare events occure? What special circumstances are important for a moonbow arrive?
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: John9929 on July 19, 2008, 07:30:59 pm
Thanks Martin it was a beauty! You are on the Spaceweather.com homepage!
Thanks Roman and welcome to the forum, you are our first member from mainland Europe!
The moonbow this morning was easily as bright as a normal rainbow, and very colourful. I
think they normally occur in or close to full Moon, but conditions need to be just right, ie. the
Moon low in the sky and a passing shower in the opposite direction. There's maybe more to
it than that, and I'm sure Martin will be on to tell us more. I have been watching for them for a
few years but this was my first one, and what a one to start with.
Thanks Roman and welcome to the forum, you are our first member from mainland Europe!
The moonbow this morning was easily as bright as a normal rainbow, and very colourful. I
think they normally occur in or close to full Moon, but conditions need to be just right, ie. the
Moon low in the sky and a passing shower in the opposite direction. There's maybe more to
it than that, and I'm sure Martin will be on to tell us more. I have been watching for them for a
few years but this was my first one, and what a one to start with.
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: martinastro on July 19, 2008, 10:05:17 pm
Congrats John on your spaceweather appearance to. Both of us on at the same time lol.
Last night presented the finest moonbows I have ever seen. To cut a long story short I will put up the link to an image report I done on the website which also includes more images of the bows and some twilight convection.
http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Night%20Of%20The%20Moonbows.html
Here's a few higher res images.
(http://i35.tinypic.com/25i3luv.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/2cmmdev.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/n3xh4z.jpg)
(http://i38.tinypic.com/157k5fd.jpg)
Last night presented the finest moonbows I have ever seen. To cut a long story short I will put up the link to an image report I done on the website which also includes more images of the bows and some twilight convection.
http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Night%20Of%20The%20Moonbows.html
Here's a few higher res images.
(http://i35.tinypic.com/25i3luv.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/2cmmdev.jpg)
(http://i35.tinypic.com/n3xh4z.jpg)
(http://i38.tinypic.com/157k5fd.jpg)
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: dogstar on July 20, 2008, 01:26:34 am
They are so cool guy's great shots indeed.I have yet to see a moonbow, the plough and a rainbow in the same image how cool is that ;D
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: Paul on July 20, 2008, 09:09:06 am
Those are brilliant shots guys - love the one with the Plough and the 'Bow - great stuff!
I have only photographed a Moonbow which I surmised would be there as we had a bright Moon and rain, so I took a photo in the opposite direction and voila! However it wasn't visible to my unadapted eye at the time.
And indeed Congrats both on the SW.com front page!
I have only photographed a Moonbow which I surmised would be there as we had a bright Moon and rain, so I took a photo in the opposite direction and voila! However it wasn't visible to my unadapted eye at the time.
And indeed Congrats both on the SW.com front page!
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: Roman White on July 20, 2008, 09:53:45 am
Wow, great shots, Martin! Especially #3 & 4 with double moonbows.
It seems that moonbows appear in Ireland on every night :)
It seems that moonbows appear in Ireland on every night :)
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: Steveo74 on July 20, 2008, 11:02:26 am
Fantastic shots John & Martin! ;D
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: martinastro on July 20, 2008, 12:23:13 pm
Thanks everyone for the comments. :)
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: Paul on July 21, 2008, 02:42:23 pm
Martin, you're on the BBC NI website! Congrats, good job :)
Title: Re: This morning's Moonbow!
Post by: martinastro on July 21, 2008, 04:50:23 pm
Paul, thanks very much for letting me know. I missed that today but will check it out now. Thanks :)
