APOD: 2026 October 4 - Supernumerary Rainbows over New Jersey - NASA Science
Reported by NASA Science · October 4, 2026
NASA’s astronomy image feature highlights a photograph taken at the Jersey Shore in New Jersey in 2018, after the remnants of Hurricane Florence moved through.
With sunlight coming from one direction, multiple rainbows appeared in the opposite part of the sky. The photographer and his daughter watched them come and go over about 30 minutes.
The image captures at least five of these extra bands. Such rainbows form when raindrops are nearly uniform in size and generally smaller than a millimeter.
The feature explains the conditions behind the unusual display; it does not describe a future event or announce further action.
Key points
- The photograph was taken at the New Jersey shore after Hurricane Florence’s remnants passed in 2018.
- At least five supernumerary rainbows were captured as they appeared and faded.
- These rainbows require raindrops of nearly uniform size, usually under a millimeter.