Astronomical and Meteorological Phenomena. Lunar Rainbow.

The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art
Exhibiting the Most Important discoveries and Improvements of the past year,
in mechanics and the useful arts; natural philosophy; electricity; chemistry; zoology and biology; geology and geography; meteorology and astronomy.
By John Timbs,
editor of "the Arcana of Science and Art."
London:
David Bogue, Fleet Street,
MDCCCXLIX (1849)

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* For example, colours are not distinguishable in the prismatic spectrum formed by the light of putrescent shell-fish, or rotten wood.Sir John Herschel has communicated to the Athenæum, No. 1099, the following: —
Collingwood, Nov. 13.

Yesterday evening, at 6h. 40m. P.M., I had the gratification of witnessing, for the first time, the rare and beautiful phenomenon of a lunar rainbow in all its perfection. The moon (full on the 11th at 1h.30m. A.M.) was near the eastern horizon, shining brilliantly through a considerable clear opening in the otherwise generally and densely clouded sky. A light, drizzling, and very uniform rain was falling with a gentle wind from the N.E., The arch, very nearly a semi-circle, was perfect in every part — apparently much better defined and somewhat narrower than the solar rainbow (circumstances easily accounted for). Its span also appeared somewhat less; which of course was only an illusion. Though much brighter than I could have expected a lunar rainbow to appear (the effect, no doubt, of the very dark background of cloud against which it was projected), it exhibited scarcely any colour: barely enough to assure the spectators that the order of colour was as in the solar bow — a faint ruddy tinge being sensible on the outer, and a still fainter bluish hue on the inner side: affording a striking illustration of that singular law in the physiology of vision, that the perception of colour is not developed unless under a certain amount of the stimulus of light.*

Not only was the primary bow thus fully developed: the exterior or secondary rainbow was also visible; not indeed conspicuously, so as to attract attention -looked for, but quite unequivocally, and at its proper distance from the -rimary. To become sensible of its existence it was necessary to keep the eye wandering. Neither were traces wanting of the supernumerary arcs which form so conspicuous an appendage to the inner edge of the solar rainbow in certain contingencies. They were indicated by a perceptible streakiness fringing the internal border of the arc, though to say whether more than one streak existed was not possible.

The southern leg of this fine arch was evidently formed within a few hundred yards of our station; as, on ascending to the roof of my dwelling-house, it was seen on the hither side of some trees at that distance. When first seen it was perfect, and continued so for six or eight minutes — when clouds obscuring the moon put an end to it. I will only add further that the impression produced by the spectacle was of that peculiar, solemn, and unearthly kind which, once experienced, remains ever after ineffaceable. — I remain, &c.

- J. F. W. Herschel