Triple Rainbow? Is it possible?

[MatthewCarman]

I checked on google and found a picture that shows 2 rainbows and mabey a third rainbow. Has anyone seen more than 2 rainbows at the same time? I cant say the picture does show 3 rainbows so I wonder if it is possible?

 

[Greg Campbell]

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/rainbows/orders.htm

 

[MatthewCarman]

Here are the questionable pictures off of google. I cant tell if there is more then 2 rainbows in these pictures that is why I asked the question. The 3rd pic is a supposed to be a qaudruple rainbow. I just need to know if these are in fact just double rainbows or triple/qaudruple rainbows.

Picture 1 and 2 the photographer or person who posted it claims they are triple Rainbows.

This photographer claims this is a qaudruple Rainbow.

This photograph appears to be a actuall tripple Rainbow. What do you think?

 

[Eric Flescher]

I remember a triple rainbow (at least that is what I remember in my younger days ) after a vicous thunderstorm at over U of RI, Kingston RI in 1972.

That one rainbow with the reflection in the water does not not seen real. Never heard of that happening although I might be wrong.And the one going straight up crossing the lighter arced rainbow?

 

[Bryan Putnam]

I've seen several double rainbows, can't recall a triple though.

 

[Mark Manchester]

I happened to see a double last evening, but as the others have said, can't ever remember a triple.

 

[mike scantlin]

i saw a triple at sunset with lightning behind it. it was my junior year(hs), final soccer game of the season.

 

[David Wolfson]

I've seen several triples. The third ones are very dim.

 

[Dan Dawson]

Most of those supposed "extra rainbows" immediately inside the arc of the main bow are called "supernumerary bows" and are actually quite common. Note that they alternate between pastel green and pink (especially in the third picture), not the same sequence as the colors of the primary bow. I've seen them on numerous occasions. Finally the bottom image features a reflection rainbow. Check out the link that Greg Campbell posted.

 

[Earl Faubion]

According to the site below the third (tertiary) rainbow is on the opposite side of the sky as the primary and secondary rainbows. If this is true then the only way to get all three in the same photo would be with an extreme wide angle lens which does not appear to be the case with the posted photos.
http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/224/