Rainbows

Rainbows written by Sean McCollum focus question How does a rainbow form?

《彩虹》 作者：肖恩·麦科勒姆 思考问题：彩虹是怎么形成的？

Tricks of light When the sun comes out after a rain shower, run outside. You may spot a giant rainbow curving across the sky like a big painting. When sunlight splashes through a window, you might see a small rainbow up close.

光的小魔术 阵雨过后太阳出来，快跑到户外去吧。 你说不定能看到一道巨大的彩虹弯跨天空，像一幅大大的画。 当阳光透过窗户洒进来，你凑近了能看到小小的彩虹哦。

Rainbows are optical illusions. We can see them, but they are impossible to touch. We can't walk around them or look at them from the side. The rainbows we see outside seem to move away if we go toward them for a closer look. Rainbows are created by light shining through water or clear objects. In nature, rainbows usually appear where rain and sunlight meet. Rainbows are beautiful tricks of light. Science, though, has unlocked their mysteries.

彩虹是一种光学错觉。 我们能看见它们，却永远摸不到。 我们没法绕到彩虹旁边，也没法从侧面看它。 我们走近想看清天上的彩虹时，它好像还会往后退呢。 彩虹是光线穿过水或是透明物体形成的。 大自然里，彩虹通常出现在雨水和阳光交汇的地方。 彩虹就是光变出来的美丽魔术。 不过科学家已经解开了它们的秘密。

Where and when rainbows appear. Notice the weather the next time you see a rainbow. There will be rain or mist in front of you, and the sun will be shining from behind you. The rainbow will appear in the rain or mist. Water in the air and direct light are the two things needed to see a rainbow in nature. A rainbow won't appear if the sky is too cloudy.

彩虹会在何时何地出现？ 下次你看见彩虹，不妨留意一下天气。 你的前方会有雨或雾气，而阳光从你身后照过来。 彩虹就会出现在雨或是雾气里。 空气中的水和直射阳光，是大自然中看见彩虹的两个必要条件。 如果天空云层太厚，彩虹就不会出现啦。

The best time to see a rainbow is usually in the morning or late afternoon. That's when the sun is in the best place to create one. If you're lucky, you might see a double or even a triple rainbow.

看彩虹最好的时间通常是清晨或是傍晚。 这时候太阳的位置最适合形成彩虹。 运气好的话，你说不定能看到双彩虹，甚至三彩虹哦。

You can sometimes spot rainbows in the midst of a waterfall, too. A splashing fountain can create a small rainbow, and a sprinkler on a sunny day may put on a colorful show. Rainbows can even form under a bright moon. These special rainbows are called moonbows.

有时候你也能在瀑布中看到彩虹。 飞溅的喷泉能变出小小的彩虹，晴天的洒水器也会上演一场色彩秀。 彩虹甚至能在明亮的月光下形成。 这种特殊的彩虹叫做月虹。