Moonbow and Rainbows Over Patagonia

Have you ever seen a moonbow? Just as rainbows are lit by the Sun , moonbows are lit by the Moon . Since the Sun is so much brighter than the Moon , sunlit rainbows are much brighter and more commonly seen than moonbows. The above movie captures not only a moonbow , but several rainbows, moving clouds, and the starry sky visible in 2009 February over Patagonia in Chile . The slight movement of the rainbows is due to the changing sky position of the Sun. Since moonlight is itself reflected sunlight , the colors are nearly the same. Both rainbows and moonbows are created by light being scattered inside small water droplets, typically from a nearby rainfall. The raindrops each act as miniature prisms , together creating the picturesque spectrum of colors seen.