Home 
  OpticsPOD
  What's New 
  Rays & Shadows
  Water Droplets
  Rainbows
    Not a rainbow!
    Primary Bow
    Secondary Bow
    A's Dark Band
    Other Orders
    Supernumeraries
      Formation
      Drop size
      Colours
      Secondary Bow
    Red Bows
    Rainbow Wheel
    Dew Bow
    Sea Spray Bow
    Glass Bead Bows
    Reflection Bows
    Twinned Bows
    Cloud Bows
    Moon Bows
    Image Gallery
    Simulators
  Ice Halos
  High Atmosphere
  Links & Resources
  Search - Index



                 

123456789012345678
   Secondary Bow Supernumeraries

 
Secondary rainbows have very faint and broad supernumeraries outside the main bow.

Rainbows from garden hosepipe sprays often show them. In the image look to the left and below the blue of the secondary bow to see its faint supernumerary.

Hosepipe sprays produce clear supernumeraries because their droplets have very similar diameters.

Michael Ellestad (site) made this hosepipe bow. Image ©Michael Ellestad.
 



A secondary supernumerary is just visible in this much enhanced image. The primary's colours are grossly distorted by the contrast increase.

The two bows were not particularly bright but the supernumerary was faintly visible to the unaided eye.

Photo: Les Cowley
  

Another secondary supernumerary.












�