There are two places in the world you can see a moonbow and this KY state park is one

Aaron Mudd
·3 min read
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There are only two places on the entire planet where you can consistently see a moonbow — an optical phenomenon very rarely seen that occurs when light from the moon refracts through water droplets in the air.

One of those places is at Victoria Falls, which sits on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in the southern half of the African continent. The only location in the Western Hemisphere is a state resort park in Kentucky, and it just so happens the next opportunity to view a lunar rainbow, as they’re also called, is in early June.

Here’s what to know about this extraordinary natural wonder, including where and when you can view one next.

How rare is it to see a moonbow?

According to Astronomy magazine, lunar rainbows occur less than 10% as often as conventional rainbows. Regular rainbows aren’t common either, per Astronomy magazine’s write-up on the topic. In most places, you may see fewer than six in a year.

Places with frequent, though brief rain showers, followed by clear, sunny skies, see quite a few more. The Isle of Skye on Scotland’s western coast and Hawaii are examples.

Moonbows form in the same way, but the conditions that make them happen are much rarer and have to come together in just the right way.

The moon isn’t typically very bright, meaning you’ll first need a luminous full moon for a lunar rainbow to occur. Full moons occur roughly once every 30 days, which is how long it takes for the moon to complete a lunar cycle.

According to Astronomy magazine, the moon is only bright enough to cast visible moonbows for about three days around when it is full. To get a good look, you also need a dark sky just after sunset. Much later than that, and the moon will rise too high in the sky.

Moonbows are colored like their daytime counterparts. However, they are typically too dim for humans to see their full range of color, as you could easily do with a rainbow during the day. A camera mounted on a tripod will capture the colors easily, but to view a lunar rainbow, all you really need is your eyes and a good view, according to Astronomy magazine.

Luckily, Kentucky is home to such a place. If you’re ready to leave the office behind and hit the open road, there’s an opportunity waiting for you at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Southeast Kentucky.

When can I next see a moonbow at Cumberland Falls?

You can view a moonbow several times throughout the year at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, according to the 2023 moonbow schedule the park recently published on its Facebook page.

The dates and times coming up in June are listed below. Remember these times are approximate and could vary.

  • June 1 from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

  • June 2 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.

  • June 3 from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

  • June 4 from midnight to 2 a.m.

  • June 5 from 1 to 3 a.m.

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