Changes

Complete circular rainbows can be seen under the right conditions; in particular, when viewing the mists over [[Niagara Falls]] early or late in the day. Circular rainbows can sometimes be seen from an [[airplane]] when it flies over clouds, the rainbow actually encircling the airplane's shadow on the clouds. One way to think about the rainbow is that the mist or rain is like a projection screen, and the rainbow can only be seen where the projection screen is. When the projection screen is large enough, you see the entire circular rainbow.

Complete circular rainbows can be seen under the right conditions; in particular, when viewing the mists over [[Niagara Falls]] early or late in the day. Circular rainbows can sometimes be seen from an [[airplane]] when it flies over clouds, the rainbow actually encircling the airplane's shadow on the clouds. One way to think about the rainbow is that the mist or rain is like a projection screen, and the rainbow can only be seen where the projection screen is. When the projection screen is large enough, you see the entire circular rainbow.

The rainbow is often depicted inaccurately in pictures. For example, it may be depicted as a three-dimensional object, with perspective<ref>[http://www.porterfieldsfineart.com/josephholodook/images/leprechaun72.jpg Leprechaun] A typical, but utterly unrealistic depiction of a rainbow. This picture also shows the rainbow as if it had separated, sharp-edged bands of color, in the order yellow, orange, red, green, blue.</ref>, real rainbows never have this appearance.  Real rainbows show an extremely subtle blending of color. It is hard to pick out separate colors in a rainbow, but of course to the extent that one can, they appear in the "[[RoyGBiv|Roy G. Biv]]" order, [[red]] outermost, then [[Orange (color)|orange]], [[yellow]], [[green]], and a range of [[blue|bluish]] shades which, in a real rainbow, are hard to distinguish and name.

The rainbow is often depicted inaccurately in pictures. For example, it may be depicted as a three-dimensional object, with perspective<ref>[http://www.porterfieldsfineart.com/josephholodook/images/leprechaun72.jpg Leprechaun] A typical, but utterly unrealistic depiction of a rainbow. This picture also shows the rainbow as if it had separated, sharp-edged bands of color, in the order yellow, orange, red, green, blue.</ref>, real rainbows never have this appearance.  Real rainbows show an extremely subtle blending of color. It is hard to pick out separate colors in a rainbow, but of course to the extent that one can, they appear in the "[[RoyGBiv|Roy G. Biv]]" order, [[red]] outermost, then [[Orange (color)|orange]], [[yellow]], [[green]], and a range of [[blue|bluish]] shades which, in a real rainbow, are hard to distinguish and name. (RoyGBiv stands for "Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet".)

It is extremely difficult to reproduce the subtle, faint [[pastel]] colors of a rainbow on a printed page, or even in a color photograph, partly because a rainbow contains colors that are not within the gamut that can be produced by mixing three primaries, and partly because rainbows are faint; printed depictions of them almost invariably have been enhanced to make them look brighter and more intensely colored than they really are.

It is extremely difficult to reproduce the subtle, faint [[pastel]] colors of a rainbow on a printed page, or even in a color photograph, partly because a rainbow contains colors that are not within the range that can be produced by mixing three primaries, and partly because rainbows are faint; printed depictions of them almost invariably have been enhanced to make them look brighter and more intensely colored than they really are.

==Liberal redefinitions==

==Liberal redefinitions==

The rainbow has also been used as a symbol of [[homosexuality]], specifically the display of a "rainbow flag" showing several color bands.

A rainbow has also been used as a symbol of [[homosexuality]], specifically the display of a "rainbow flag" showing several color bands.

The term "rainbow" has also been used by left-wing political pressure groups to refer to their agenda of [[multiculturalism]], specifically the groups led by [[Jesse Jackson]] (the "Rainbow Coalition"), and [[Lenora Fulani]] (the "Rainbow Lobby").

The term "rainbow" has also been used by left-wing political pressure groups to refer to their agenda of [[multiculturalism]], specifically the groups led by [[Jesse Jackson]] (the "Rainbow Coalition"), and [[Lenora Fulani]] (the "Rainbow Lobby").