Can a rainbow be observed at midday in Moscow during the summer solstice (on June 22)?
Note. At this time the Sun is the highest above the horizon in the northern hemisphere.
Text Solution
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Sol. The geographical latitude of Moscow, i.e., the angle between the plane of the equator and a normal to the surface of the Earth, is ϕ = 56º. At this moment the Sun is in the zenith above the northern tropic (latitude α = 23.5º). Hence, the angle between the direction to the Sun and the horizon (Fig. a) is
Fig.
β = 90º – ϕ + α = 57º30'
A rainbow can be observed only when the altitude of the Sun above the horizon does not exceed 42º (see Fig. b).
Fig.
Therefore, no rainbow can be observed.
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