Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/17

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Subject: [Leica] Regarding rainbows...
From: abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge)
Date: Sun Dec 17 11:05:51 2006
 
So we were out on a catamaran off Waikiki yesterday and everyone
started commenting on the gorgeous rainbow over the city - except I
couldn't see it. Then it occurred to me that I was wearing polarizing
clip-on sunglasses and darn if, when I tilted them down, there was the
rainbow. Tilting my head 90 degrees also revealed the rainbow.

So why are rainbows polarized? I didn't expect this and I don't think
I've ever read that they were.

Maybe I'm the only guy on the planet not to know this but in the
meantime I thought I'd share.

Can anyone explain WHY rainbows are polarized?

AB
Replies: Reply from reid at mejac.palo-alto.ca.us (Brian Reid) ([Leica] Regarding rainbows...)
Reply from hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson) ([Leica] Regarding rainbows...)
Reply from imagist3 at mac.com (Lottermoser George) ([Leica] Regarding rainbows...)