Edward Lenzp age 11 of Peoria. Ill..

Are there two sides to a rainbow?

The rainbow you see is for your eyes alone. It is a trick with light and mirrors. And you must see it from just the proper angle. Someone down the road sees the trick from another angle. So does someone standing right beside you. Therefore they really see a different rainbow.

The mirrors in this trick are a million falling raindrops. Light. of course. comes from the sun. The sun and the rain cloud must be facing each other from opposite sides of the sky. The best rainbows appear in early morning or late afternoon. As you face the rainbow shining on the cloud of raindrops. the sunlight comes from over your shoulder.

The light dances on the raindrops in the cloud and back to your eyes. It does not make a rainbow on the other side of the cloud. People on that side see a dark cloud in front of the sun. So. there is only one side to a rainbow ‑ your side.