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Phillip Normanton | all galleries >> Photo a Day >> PaD May 2009 > 20090506 - Lunar Rainbow or Moonbow
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06-MAY-2009

20090506 - Lunar Rainbow or Moonbow

Wensley view map

So, there I was just after sunset at the foot of Penhill (one word!!) aiming for a long exposure of the clouds as it was very windy... but the rain came and I had to point away from Penhill and use the car as shelter.
When I gave up and decided to go with whatever I had and go home, the cloud cleared and the moon came out properly. As I was driving down the hill I saw a white arc in the sky... a lunar rainbow - never seen one of those before!!! I suppose it looked white as our eyes switch to black and white in low light. So, I stopped in a slightly wider bit of road and got the tripod out for a quick go (hoping for no traffic!!!)... didn't want to try driving to a better spot in case it disappeared... which it did just about as soon as I'd taken it!
So, it's not the best piccy ever, but it's 'different' :o)

The hedge on the left is illuminated by the car headlights - thought I'd better leave them on in case something came whizzing past!

Here's the things I sort of set out to do... another night perhaps!!



Hmmm - if you let your imagination do a bit of work, it's sort of a coloured wheel in the sky... lol desperate I know but I'm going to stick it in as this week's TITTC: Wheels

Canon EOS 5D ,Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
30s f/5.6 at 31.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Guest 11-May-2011 16:56
Awesome! I've never heard of a lunar rainbow. The color is really great in this; unique. Plus, I like the bit of motion in the trees. V.
Frank Brault10-May-2011 22:27
Absolutely gorgeous and so unusual. I have never seen a lunar rainbow and did not know it could even exist. Thanks and congratulations on its being published. BV
Sheila09-May-2009 10:52
Very interesting and beautiful.
Dave Hein08-May-2009 06:57
I've never seen one of these either.
Pat Shawyer08-May-2009 06:17
Thats very beautiful !
Nancy Lobaugh08-May-2009 02:36
very cool.. and of course I now have Cat Stevens floating around in my head...
Laura Sebastianelli08-May-2009 00:51
Wow! I've never seen anything like this! ~v
Jola Dziubinska07-May-2009 23:16
Incredible phenomenon, excellent exposure that made it visible in the photo. V.
Kevin Chester07-May-2009 20:31
What can I say, I'm amazed, I have never seen one either
virginiacoastline07-May-2009 19:21
it's wheel-y good
Inga Morozoff07-May-2009 16:20
Wow!!!!!!
Timothy Guenther07-May-2009 15:37
cool
J. Scott Coile07-May-2009 15:15
Coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool.
Guess Who 07-May-2009 14:42
Good rainbow that. should you have been out so late?
mathilda williams07-May-2009 14:40
This is totally amazing, I have never seen it. Wonderful.
An De Wilde07-May-2009 14:02
never seen this before !
Colin Storey07-May-2009 13:55
wow, thats amazing.
Ilana gil07-May-2009 13:50
Wonderful view!
Johnny JAG07-May-2009 11:54
Nice one, I've only seen this phenomenon once.
laine07-May-2009 09:25
wow...that's some luck. Great shot.
Maaike Huizer07-May-2009 08:45
That is an original take on the challenge. A spectaculair wheel it is!
Ann...07-May-2009 06:46
I didn't know such a thing happened - lucky you. Its a great shot.
Doug Cruden07-May-2009 06:01
Excellent shot! I envy you your find!!! A great TITTC candidate :o)
malcolm haslam07-May-2009 05:31
Now, that is different...quite spectacular.
Guest 07-May-2009 05:09
nice capture !
Evaristo Buendia Carrera07-May-2009 05:08
wheel the raining light.
Norbert Fortelny07-May-2009 05:08
Nice, you did it!
Guest 07-May-2009 04:51
A wheel in the sky, excellent
Dan Chusid07-May-2009 04:39
Careful of those coyotes.
Cindi Smith07-May-2009 03:36
Oh wow!!!!!!!
carol j. phipps07-May-2009 00:39
That's a prize wheel!
Ray Rebortira07-May-2009 00:24
A fortuitous spin of the wheel and what a great image it is!
Laryl06-May-2009 23:52
I'd like to see that wheel!
Faye White06-May-2009 23:12
wow! super sight!
Mairéad06-May-2009 23:09
Wow - that's most amazing.
Walter Otto Koenig06-May-2009 22:48
Very cool. Nice catch. The last one I saw was at a Pink Floyd Concert.
Máire Uí Mhaicín06-May-2009 22:39
Pretty amazing, and very pretty too. A great find, true reward for perseverance.