1.
It rained yesterday.
“The storm clouds leave a thin strip on sunlight over the downtown area.”
That’s *big* news in Los Angeles. We haven’t had rain in months.
The storm brought dramatic looking clouds with it, and while it was still raining the *biggest* rainbow I’ve ever seen spread across the sky right in front of us.
Rainbow
and as we stood watching, it became a double rainbow…
I’ve never seen such a beautiful rainbow, or such a large one before! Perhaps because we’re on a hill with no buildings blocking our view, both the rainbows spread out in front of us, end to end.
Unfortunately the wide-angle lens on my camera was unable to capture the entire rainbow arc.
2.
Update on the Space Shuttle Endeavour: the enormous aircraft is on its way from LAX (the airport) to the Science Center.
As I mentioned in my earlier post on the shuttle, in order to make room on our city streets for the five-story-tall Endeavour with a seventy-eight-foot wingspan, about 400 trees had to be chopped down, cable and telephone lines had to be raised, and steel plates had to be laid down to protect the streets and underground utilities.
The estimated cost of transporting it across town? + $10 million.
- The Endeavour flying over LA with fighter jet escort. Photo credit Gabriel
The Endeavour is being moved on a specialized carrier typically used to haul something like an oil rig. As the wheels can spin in any direction, it will allow it to zigzag past obstacles.
The route was selected after ruling out other options.
- Dismantling the shuttle would have ruined the delicate heat tiles.
- it’s too big for a helicopter
- can’t fit through any of the freeway underpasses.
I did think of going to watch it, but when I heard about the road closures and the expected crowds, I stayed at home…
In this CNN link a couple of videos of the Endeavour moving down our city streets.
I’ve included the following video if you’d to know some history of the Endeavour.
.
Published on Sep 16, 2012 by CoconutScienceLab
Credit: NASA KSC
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Wondering Rose 
Beautiful! And always a good sign.
When the arc of a double rainbow spreads below your feet it’s beautiful and humbling, and felt as though a new day is dawning.
I had the same rainbow here, that was too big for my wide angle lens. Glad it rained for you and great series of images for the challenge.
I don’t know where you live – I think New Zealand – yet you saw the same rainbow I saw over here on the west coast of the United States? Wow that’s amazing. Did you also see a double rainbow?
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Yes I am in NZ, and I meant to say I had seen one that was too wide for my camera, and was also a double one but it was a week ago. I dunno maybe there is only one rainbow and it shows up under the right circumstances 🙂
Nice to meet someone from NZ. Thanks for sharing your rainbow story
I’ve never seen an entire rainbow arc before.
According to Wikipedia: “Rainbows are formed by light reflecting through water droplets…”
A pity about the 400 trees …
Glad you got some rain. You can have some of ours if you like.
I promised to write about the trees, but I didn’t want to write a downer this week.
You’re very generous to offer your rain. Can you send some over for my bedtimes? I love listening to the sound of rain falling on the roof when I’m going to sleep.
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sounds like it was quite an Endeavour
Oh good one! 🙂
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Thank you for this. I want to ask daughter #1 if she saw it this week. I’m so glad you can give me a peek at what’s going on in your area so I can ask her when she calls.
I’d be interested to know whether your daughter saw a rainbow. I saw the double rainbow on Thursday afternoon. Friends who live about five miles from the Museum saw a single rainbow on Thursday morning.
Rainbows are wonderful. The full arcs aren’t common here, but they do happen for me 2-3 times a year. Of course, we get much, much more rain than you do, and because so much of our summer rain comes from pop-up storms over the bay, it’s often possible to have rain and sun at the same time.
Here’s a good site for all things having to do with atmospheric phenomena. I’ve linked to the Rainbows page! Down in the right-hand, lower corner, you’ll see a link to other colored patches that aren’t rainbows. If you go there, you’ll see the circumzenithal arc in that pages upper left. I’ve seen just one of those in my life – an amazing sight that reminded me of the Cheshire Cat!
Oh – and here’s your rain. I listened to this Texas thunderstorm more than you can imagine during the drought!
We only get our rainfall in the winter so after a long dry hot summer everything’s bone dry, and that’s why the fall is such a dangerous time for fires.
I thought I’d seen something no one else would’ve heard of, and you tell me you see full arc rainbows several times a year.
Thanks so much for including the links. The rainbows page is fascinating. I spent some time hanging out there… Were you in Texas when you saw the “circumzenithal arc”?
I love listening to the Texas thunderstorm. I listened to it twice. On our hike last weekend Julie told us that there were a lot of acorns this fall which she said means we’re going to get a lot of rain this winter. I don’t know. I await the rains…
Double rainbows are such an awesome sight, aren’t they? They seem to capture everyone’s attention and brings us altogether for just that moment.
You expressed it perfectly. We’re all so blase and bored about most things, but when the double rainbow appeared everyone ran outside to take pictures with their phones.
Double rainbows are fabulous. We get quite a lot of them here and very occasionally see the whole arc. Hubby and I are very ‘attached’ to rainbows, if one of us sees one, we summon the other to see! 🙂
Rainbows are magical. When they appear in the sky we have to share the magic. Did you see double rainbows as often when you lived in London?
Not really because unless one went to a park that was high up, there wasn’t the space to see them. Here – wow!
Yay…it’s raining here, as well, Rosie. Sooooo needed. My friend outside of Vancouver said he’s down to saving his precious cup of water for tooth brushings! He was ready to drive up the Coast to a location where the water is lake-fed.
We didn’t have to worry about the water supply, thankfully, but we are so concerned about fires. If we ever had one on this island, we’d have to be like lemmings racing to the water!
I’m also sorry about the trees. Was this like the guy building a sailboat in his garage?
Amy I didn’t know you were suffering from such a serious lack of rain up there in Canada.
Because our rain falls in the winter we’re also very concerned about fires right now. We had a few drops of rain on Thursday – that’s all – everything’s so bone dry.
We’re now sweltering in another heat wave -Wednesday is supposed to be the hottest day this week.
Hah hah re the guy building a sailboat in his garage.
Much needed rain and a rainbow too! That is certainly a double treat! What is it about them that alway seems so magical and awe-inspiring?
Unfortunately we didn’t get enough rain. The ground’s so dry it disappeared as soon as it fell.
I wonder whether rainbows are so magical because they appear suddenly, out of the blue, and don’t last long.
Double rainbows are extraordinary, aren’t they? So glad you had some good rain, Rosie.
And I didn’t know about the Endeavour traveling to the science centre – what a fabulous story! Thank you for telling us all about it!
Reggie did you check the link on my earlier post about the Endeavour? When it arrived in Los Angeles I hiked up to a hill opposite the Observatory to watch it fly over the city.
It was only the second time that I’d seen a double rainbow. Do you get them often in your neighborhood?
I see them quite rarely, actually. But perhaps that’s because, when it’s raining, I’m usually inside, and we don’t have a view from our house. 🙂 They are very special though, aren’t they?
I think you’ve nailed the reason most of us don’t see rainbows very often ie we don’t have a view from our homes. My house is surrounded by buildings and trees, but the museum is on a hill with an almost unobstructed view.
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400 trees chopped down?? that seems AWFUL!! (but loved your sweet rainbow shots — were they from your house or the museum??? xooxox b
I took the photos from the museum which is on a hill with a perfectly clear 360 degree view. My home is surrounded by buildings and trees so I doubt that one would see a full arc double rainbow there.
Beautiful rainbow photos, Rosie. Fascinating that in double rainbows, the second arc inverts the order of the colors.
Thanks EOS.
I understand that rainbows are formed when light is reflected through water droplets, but I don’t understand why when the second rainbow forms the order of the colors are inverted.
It’s been raining here since last few days. But unfortunately, no rainbows. It’s been long since last time I saw a rainbow. 🙂 But I am glad you could view such a beautiful rainbow at your place. I just loved that picture. Thanks a lot for sharing it here, Rosie Auntie. 🙂
When I hear that you enjoyed seeing my pictures, it encourages me to always run out in the rain and not be bothered about getting wet. Thank you Arindam.
I wonder why you get so much rain, but no rainbows…
The answer is very simple; You are lucky and I am unlucky. 🙂
Arindam I’m coming right over to smack you. And then we’re going to sit down and have a cup of chai and a chat because I see – when I read the tea-leaves – that you are in need of company.
Why am I lucky? Because I have a job where I have to stand all day?
I bet you that you could write pages of reasons why you are lucky. I’ll start you off.
“I Arindam am lucky because:
… I was born into such a wonderful family.
… I have such a wonderful Mother.
… I have such a wonderful sister.
…. I have such a wonderful brother.
… I have such a wonderful blogging family…
(and I know it’s true because I read your blog and you’ve shared stories about your family!)
Rosie Auntie, you’ve given so many reason to prove me lucky. And honestly, I could n’t disagree with one. But Let me give you one reason why Arindam is unlucky and Rosie Auntie is lucky; it’s because- I could not get rainbows here but she could. 🙂
By the way it’s raining heavily here and I am having an adrak chai (ginger tea) sitting on my balcony; which I prepared myself. 🙂
Oh you’re a rascal playing games with me 🙂 Perhaps I interpreted sadness in your response because you look pensive and almost sad in your new gravatar.
I also like sitting on a verandah watching the rain pouring down while sipping tea. You get a gold star for preparing the ginger tea all by yourself.
Ha ha! 🙂 LOL Do not go by with my Gravatar. I am really good at faking facial expressions. 🙂
Your gravatar is all I know of you. When I answer your comments I’m not talking to you personally, but I’m talking to the face you show us.
It’s good to know there’s a trickster side of you. 🙂
Blessings comes in many forms. This one came pouring like rain with an exciting double rainbow surprise. Beautiful post my friend. Have a great weekend.
It was so thrilling to see the double rainbow. Do you see them where you live IT?
This is a wonderful post, Rosie, about both natural and man-made wonders. The photographs are amazing.
Glad you like the post. Do you see double rainbows over on your coast Charles?