A Moonbow Anecdote
from Suzette Helmick (discette@chartermi.net) of Rochester, Minnesota
back to spaceweather.com

Photographs can never show the true beauty of a moonbow! In order for the night rainbow to show on film, a long exposure is needed. This essentially makes the photos appear to be taken in daylight. It is a shame that the only way to truly enjoy this particular phenomenon, is to see it in person.

My family and I were on the last day of our once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the island of Maui, Hawaii. After my three children had gone off to bed, I finished packing the luggage for our departure in the morning. I went out onto the lanai(patio) to take one last look at the beautiful Hawaiian night sky. The nearly full moon was just rising over the mountains behind me. Despite the bright moon, skies above were cavu, showing millions of stars. Low on the western horizon, it was pitch black from a rain storm on the neighboring island of Molokai. Just then, something caught my eye. It was the most brilliant flash of red from the western horizon. Then, before my eyes, appeared a fully formed moonbow with the most intense neon colors I have ever seen. Against the pitch black horizon, this night rainbow appeared magically illuminated. There was nothing pastel about this rainbow.

I immediately woke up my family and told them to come out and see this amazing sight. We all stood in wonder for at least 15 minutes watching the true glow-in-the-dark rainbow in front of us. I have awoken my three children many times in the middle of the night to see meteor showers, auroras and other celestial events. While sometimes it is hard to tell if they enjoy these things, I know they were truly amazed and awestruck at seeing the brilliant night rainbow. I am so glad we all shared this moment together. In my 44 years of living and exploring the night sky as an amateur, I have seen amazing Leonid meteor showers, eclipses and truly breathtaking auroras, but nothing compares to the surreal beauty of witnessing this moonbow.

It has been a year since we visited Hawaii. When we talk of our trip, my daughters never fail to mention seeing the night rainbow. We will never forget the beautiful, glowing neon colors springing from the pitch black night sky. Like V.E. Mikkelson stated at the end of his article, "It's beauty will haunt me for the rest of my days."