Can You Handle the Truth — About the End of the Rainbow? | The Weather Channel (2024)

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By Allie Goolrick

September 21, 2013

If you’ve ever fantasized about finding the elusive pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, you’re about to be sorely disappointed. Because finding the true end of a rainbow is about as unlikely as stumbling across an unclaimed cauldron of gold doubloons.

These pictures may come close—but what they really capture is one of nature’s greatest optical illusions.

Rainbows are formed when water droplets in the atmosphere refract, or bend, sunlight in just the right circ*mstances. But you, as the observer, have to catch them just from the right angle and point of view as well in order to see them.

Most people don’t realize that whenever you see a rainbow, the sun is directly behind you — and the rain in front.

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Not only do the weather conditions have to be correct where you’re standing, but according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, you also have to be standing at exactly the right angle (42 degrees) relative to the sun’s rays.

It’s that very specific angle you have to be at to observe the phenomena that also explains why all the rainbow chasing in the world won’t get you to the pot of gold. Consider this: If you see a friend standing directly underneath a rainbow and try to approach her, the closer you get, the father away the rainbow will appear. In fact, from her position, your friend will see an entirely separate rainbow in the distance — but still at 42 degrees.

In fact, as far as scientists are concerned, no two people can even see the same rainbow (except in a photo!), since the effect is dependent on our own line of sight.

That means that no matter how hard you try, you can never get close enough to a rainbow to see its “end.” But don’t despair: Depending on how you look at it, it could also mean that there are an infinite number in the sky when the conditions are just right. You could be standing at the end of a rainbow right now!

Just like these photographs, it’s all about perception.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Double Rainbows

Can You Handle the Truth — About the End of the Rainbow? | The Weather Channel (2)

Can You Handle the Truth — About the End of the Rainbow? | The Weather Channel (2024)

FAQs

Can You Handle the Truth — About the End of the Rainbow? | The Weather Channel? ›

The truth is that there is actually no “end of the rainbow.” While we see rainbows as giant arcs over the Earth's surface, we're only really seeing half of the rainbow. “Since the raindrop is circular, the reflection it creates is also circular,” The Weather Network meteorologist Rachel Modestino explains.

Can you actually find the end of a rainbow? ›

A rainbow isn't a fixed object that hangs in the sky. It's an illusion formed between the sunshine, the rain and your eyes. Light bounces out of the raindrops at an angle of 40° for red light, and 42° for blue. And that's true wherever you stand, so as you move, the rainbow moves too and you can never catch it.

What happens if you touch the end of the rainbow? ›

Rainbow is formed just because of dispersion of white light due to raindrops. Technically different colours are light waves of different wavelengths. Since we can not touch light, so we can not even touch a rainbow.

What does it mean when the 🌈 ends? ›

phrase. If you say that something is at the end of the rainbow, you mean that people want it but it is almost impossible to obtain or achieve.

Has anyone ever found the end of the rainbow? ›

PADRE ISLAND, Texas — While, technically, there is no "end" to a rainbow since they are actually full circles of light being refracted, one woman caught an amazing photo of what looked like the end of a rainbow on Padre Island.

Is there actually treasure at the end of a rainbow? ›

As you might know/expect, it's merely a myth based on uncertainty, because the ends of all rainbows are actually invisible. Irish culture is quite old, and there are countless myths and traditions, stemming from thousands of years ago. Not only from Roman Catholicism but that island's ancient, even pre-historic times.

Where does the rainbow end in real life? ›

There is no end of rainbow. Rainbows are full circles.

What is at the end of rainbow? ›

Rainbows end when something blocks the light from refracting, such as the ground or lack of water in the air. If there were nothing blocking it, a rainbow would be a circle. So there's nothing at the end except what caused it to end.

What is actually at the end of the rainbow? ›

Because rainbows are made in the sky, they don't touch the ground. So if you're on the ground, however far you walk, the end of the rainbow will always look as if it were on the edge of the horizon. But what people don't realise is that rainbows are actually complete circles, and obviously a circle has no end.

Why can't we reach the end of the rainbow? ›

A rainbow doesn't have a specific location in the sky. Its apparent position depends on where you're observing from. Therefore, you can't walk to the end of the rainbow, as it is always 'moving' with you.

Where in the Bible does it talk about the rainbow? ›

Genesis 9:16 (NIV) “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. ” The flood ended, the waters receded, the ark stopped rocking, and the ground was dry.

What does the rainbow 🌈 mean? ›

The rainbow emoji 🌈 depicts a colorful arc of a rainbow. When not representing the meteorological phenomenon, the emoji can express various positive emotions, such as happiness, feelings of togetherness, hope, and good fortune. Along with the rainbow flag emoji. , it's commonly used to express LGBTQ identity and pride.

What is the rainbow end myth? ›

The Irish tradition of a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow is certainly not the oldest rainbow myth, but it may be the most pervasive in western culture. You're almost certainly familiar with the particulars: a wealth of riches is stored at the end of every rainbow, which is carefully guarded by a leprechaun.

What is hidden at the end of a rainbow? ›

Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and with it comes tales of mischievous leprechauns and the pots of gold that they guard at the end of rainbows. You may already know that there is no “end” of a rainbow — science tells us that their arch shape is simply an illusion.

Is there really money at the end of a rainbow? ›

According to legend, leprechauns found the abandoned gold and buried it again so no human could ever find it. The old folktales tell us that there is a pot of gold hidden where the end of any rainbow touches the earth.

Is it lucky to see the end of a rainbow? ›

Rainbows are a sign of good luck.

Perhaps you're familiar with tales of leprechauns guarding their pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. Many believe that rainbows are symbols of good fortune because of these legends, so make a wish when you see one!

Does the end of a rainbow exist? ›

Because rainbows are made in the sky, they don't touch the ground. So if you're on the ground, however far you walk, the end of the rainbow will always look as if it were on the edge of the horizon. But what people don't realise is that rainbows are actually complete circles, and obviously a circle has no end.

Can you ever find the bottom of a rainbow? ›

You'll never swim out to the horizon , and you'll never reach a rainbow's end. The visibility of both requires distance between object and observer. Rainbows consist of water droplets being struck by sunlight in a certain way.

What are the chances of finding the end of a rainbow? ›

You can't see the end of a rainbow because it has no ends. It is always a full circle. The visible “end” of the rainbow is just the point where the circle touches the ground, and below of that point the circle is invisible, because there is no rain.

Can you guess what is the end of a rainbow? ›

The letter "W". That's an easy one.

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