Monday, July 6, 2009

Kentucky Moonshine: America's Moonbow

Last May, we noted the world-famous Moonbow phenomena of Victoria Falls. As it turns out, Corbin, Kentucky, specifically Cumberland Falls, claims to be unique in the United States in presenting similar Moonbows, known for their ghostly long-exposure photographic effects.

Bob Downing of the Akron Beacon Journal reports, "Moonbows are very real and a very big attraction in south-central Kentucky.

"That is the term given to the unusual lunar rainbows that appear at night in the mist at the bottom of Cumberland Falls near and on full-moon nights.

"Moonbows are formed when moonlight is refracted like a prism in the mist of the falls.

"Such ghostly whitish moonbows are an elusive tourist attraction. I know people who have made trips to Cumberland Falls in search of moonbows but were thwarted by gray skies and rain.

"Moonbows may sound strange, but they do occur regularly at only two places: at Kentucky's Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, and at Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in Africa.

"Moonbows were reportedly special to the Shawnees and Cherokees, and they recognized Cumberland Falls as a sacred place.

"If you want to attempt to see Kentucky's moonbows, the upcoming full moons in 2009 are July 7, Aug. 5, Sept. 4, Oct. 4, Nov. 2, Dec. 2 and Dec. 31.

"Moonbows are possible on clear evenings with full moons. They may also appear, if conditions are right, on the two nights before the full moon and the two nights after the full moon. That creates a five-day window for every full moon, weather permitting."

Read the Full Story HERE.

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