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Can You Handle the Truth — About the End of the Rainbow?

If you’ve ever fantasized about finding the elusive pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, you’re about to be sorely disappointed. Because finding the true end of a rainbow is about as unlikely as stumbling across an unclaimed cauldron of gold doubloons.

These pictures may come close—but what they really capture is one of nature’s greatest optical illusions.

Rainbows are formed when water droplets in the atmosphere refract, or bend, sunlight in just the right circumstances. But you, as the observer, have to catch them just from the right angle and point of view as well in order to see them.

Most people don’t realize that whenever you see a rainbow, the sun is directly behind you — and the rain in front.

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Not only do the weather conditions have to be correct where you’re standing, but according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, you also have to be standing at exactly the right angle (42 degrees) relative to the sun’s rays.

It’s that very specific angle you have to be at to observe the phenomena that also explains why all the rainbow chasing in the world won’t get you to the pot of gold. Consider this: If you see a friend standing directly underneath a rainbow and try to approach her, the closer you get, the father away the rainbow will appear. In fact, from her position, your friend will see an entirely separate rainbow in the distance — but still at 42 degrees.

In fact, as far as scientists are concerned, no two people can even see the same rainbow (except in a photo!), since the effect is dependent on our own line of sight.

That means that no matter how hard you try, you can never get close enough to a rainbow to see its “end.” But don’t despair: Depending on how you look at it, it could also mean that there are an infinite number in the sky when the conditions are just right. You could be standing at the end of a rainbow right now!

Just like these photographs, it’s all about perception.