APOD: 2026 October 4 – Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey
The post APOD: 2026 October 4 – Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey appeared first on NASA Science .
On October 4, 2026, the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) showcased the remarkable phenomenon of supernumerary rainbows over New Jersey, USA. The image captured the attention of both seasoned astronomers and casual stargazers alike, revealing a stunning display of vivid rainbows that defied the norm.
After Hurricane Florence had recently passed through the Jersey Shore region, the sun emerged from behind the clouds in one direction, illuminating the sky. However, in the opposite direction, something extraordinary occurred: a hall of rainbows that seemed to dance and flicker in the opposite direction.
Over the course of a half-hour period, the photographer and his daughter were fortunate enough to witness the supernumerary rainbows, with at least five distinct rainbows captured in a single shot. These rare and mesmerizing rainbows only form under specific conditions, requiring falling water droplets to be all nearly the same size and smaller than a millimeter across.
The formation of supernumerary rainbows involves sunlight reflecting inside the raindrops and experiencing interference, a wave phenomenon similar to ripples on a pond when a stone is thrown into it. The existence of supernumerary rainbows was first noted in the early 1800s and served as early evidence for the wave nature of light.
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