Abstract
AN unusual atmospherical effect was witnessed here to-day, which I had a good opportunity of observing. The sun was about 8° from the horizon, shining brightly upon a heavy shower which had a background of dark clouds. The result was, of course, a double rainbow of remarkable brilliancy. In addition, however, to the ordinary circular and concentric bows, there was a third of an elliptical form, the two ends of which respectively sprang from the two ends of the inner arc, while the elliptical curve cut the outer arc at each extremity of a chord, which was parallel to, and which intersected the normal radius at a point about two-thirds of its length above, the diameter that formed the common base. The top of the elliptical bow was thus the outermost of the three, but the space between its inner margin and the outer margin of the second bow, although quite distinct, was not large.
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ROMANES, G. Curious Rainbow. Nature 8, 224 (1873). https://doi.org/10.1038/008224a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/008224a0
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