Double Rainbow And Lightning Strike Captured By Photographer In Ohio (PHOTO)

We may not be as excited about a double rainbow as this guy, but the picture above is still quite impressive. Captured by Associated Press photographer Steve Vaughn on May 1 in Hamilton, Ohio, the image shows both a lightning strike and a double rainbow.

According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a double rainbow happens when the ray of light that causes a single rainbow is reflected twice within raindrops and exits at a greater angle than a single rainbow. The Straight Dope explains:

Because the twice-reflected light has had two chances to be transmitted out the back of the raindrop rather than reflected back toward the observer, the secondary bow is much fainter than the primary and frequently cannot be seen at all; it's typical for a secondary rainbow to be visible only at certain points along the arc.

Luckily for Vaughn, he was able to witness both rainbows as a lightning bolt pierced the sky. For more double rainbow action, look at these double bows above London, New York and Washington, D.C.. Be sure to check out Jimmy Kimmel's interview with the "Double Rainbow Guy," whose unrivaled excitement for a double rainbow garnered him tens of millions of YouTube views.

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Comments

[Carl Crooks]

02:37 AM on 05/05/2012

Right click > Save Image as...

Thank you for my new desktop background guise!!

[Noble9]

12:50 PM on 05/04/2012

Hail Thor!

[as-i-see-it]

08:32 AM on 05/04/2012

We saw this kind of thing happen a couple years back. It was amazing to see.
We were in a Kroger's parking lot when it happened, and everyone was snapping pictures.

[VAcitizen]

05:35 AM on 05/04/2012

lovely pic.

[Morgano1992]

04:52 AM on 05/04/2012

It's SOOO INTENSE!!!!!

[ahoyhoy]

06:40 AM on 05/04/2012

I was just gonna say that...What do you think it MEANS, though?

[drhirise]

07:29 PM on 05/04/2012

God is pissed! He's saying: do I have to come down there?!!

[Morgano1992]

04:11 AM on 05/05/2012

God was playing Jenga and knocked the tower over

[oldwolf49]

04:13 AM on 05/04/2012

Tis the beginning of the end, the first sign.

[Parade Keegan]

03:47 AM on 05/04/2012

When there's a photo of a double rainbow with leprechauns and pots of gold that will be news worthy and a "he** of a photo"!

[drhirise]

07:29 PM on 05/04/2012

Yeah, maybe a leprechaun won the lottery or something.

[keep it solid]

10:18 PM on 05/03/2012

Wooh! pretty cool pic :)

[HRLS]

10:17 PM on 05/03/2012

Getting the pot of gold could cost you.

[Liberal Independent]

09:04 PM on 05/03/2012

I love rainbows. Singles and doubles. :)

[Gary Durm]

08:25 PM on 05/03/2012

The lightening isn't real. Lightening does not break up in sections. It either breaks from the top or bottom, but not the middle. :l It's a constant strand, so unless it touched the ground and came back up, which it has not, then it's not possible. :l

[budshort]

09:05 PM on 05/03/2012

I don't think the lightning is breaking in the middle, I believe a section of lightning is obscured by a cloud.

[BillieMax]

08:23 PM on 05/03/2012

How did you know, I just can't believe it !

[Popopnano]

07:47 PM on 05/03/2012

Zeus just killed a leprechaun.

[Waystorm]

02:51 AM on 05/04/2012

Or Thor..

[shewolf2002]

06:58 AM on 05/04/2012

I just snorted my coffee. Thank you! faved!!!!!!!

[allen92909]

07:06 PM on 05/03/2012

You can barely see that second rainbow. It's still a cool picture though.

[churchgirl1973]

07:03 PM on 05/03/2012

Behold the handiwork of God!

[kilchis]

03:16 AM on 05/04/2012

Zeus or Thor?

[Marc Driftmeyer]

06:56 AM on 05/04/2012

You forgot, Jove.