Is a Telescope a Good Way to Watch an Eclipse? There’s no denying the magnetic draw when it comes to the beauty and majesty of a solar eclipse. There’s something about these astronomical events that cause even the most jaded and indifferent of people to marvel at this natural wonder. In the excitement of preparing for an eclipse, you may wonder if it’s a good idea to watch a solar eclipse with a telescope. The temptation to watch each phase through its intense magnification may seem like a thrill, but is it actually safe to watch the part...

Top 4 Unique Rainbow Gifts for the Holidays With the holidays right around the corner, everyone is looking for a unique take on gift-giving. How can you be sure that you’ll give the perfect gift that any adult would love, whether it’s a family gathering, office party, or a secret Santa? Rainbow Symphony has the perfect solution for any setting: choose some unique rainbow gifts! These one-of-a-kind presents are always beloved, and they’re never in danger of being re-gifted! We asked some of the folks here at Rainbow Symphony what they t...

Colorful Attitude: How Rainbow Colors Can Affect Your Mood Learn More About Color & Mood Everyone wants to be happy, but how can you sprinkle your life with happiness all the time? Did you know your mood and the color of your space are connected? Colors can affect your mood! If you want to bring serenity to your life, consider the best combinations of colors to create an environment that enhances your joie de vivre! Learn more about how color and mood go together to create the perfect space for your needs. How Do You See Color? While everyone m...

What Are The Effects of a Solar Eclipse on Plants & Animals Whether it’s a crowd of people looking up at the sky through odd glasses or traveling around to chase celestial phenomena, eclipses have a definite effect on humans. But, do they also affect animal and plant behavior? Scientists say yes. If you’re curious about solar eclipse effects on plants and animals, Rainbow Symphony has the answers you’re looking for. We’re always continuing our efforts to learn as much as possible about how every type of eclipse could be aff...

Your Pets and Eclipses: What You Should Know Here in the not-too-distant future, we’ll have two exciting astronomical events taking place in the United States: On October 14, 2023, parts of the American Southwest and the Pacific Coast will experience an annular solar eclipse. During this event, total darkness will not occur. However, many of the characteristics of a total solar eclipse can be witnessed, making it an exciting event that shouldn’t be missed. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will be viewable by thirteen American s...

5 Things to Teach Your Kids About the Sun This Summer Learn About the Sun If you’ve got kids that are interested in celestial phenomena, the summer is the perfect time to teach them about the sun. Take your kids out with a pair of eclipse glasses and talk to them about some of the sun’s unique features, its relationship with the Earth, and what happens during solar eclipses. Wondering which facts to talk about? Here are our five favorite facts to help your kids learn about the sun! Check them out now and bond with your kids over cool science tod...

Sunlight’s Effect On Your Brain & Health Benefits of Sunshine You’ve probably had many people tell you that you should get out and get some sun, but why is this phrase so popular? Does the sun really have that much of an effect on your physical and mental health? The benefits of sunshine are powerful, and they can affect everything from your mood to your immune system. Learn more about the health benefits of sunlight when you read our blog now! 1. Better Mental Health Your brain is a complex creation with many processes that can...

Don't Overlook The Solar Eclipse 2023 The celestial objects in our solar system constantly hurtle along at thousands of miles per second. Every so often, they align just right from our vantage point on earth, and they look like they are converging into one. To astronomy enthusiasts, scientists, and even the average Joe, it’s downright magical. The glorious phenomena that is an annular eclipse is not just amazing to look at: it gives you a sense of where we are in the universe. At this scale, you can realize just how small and fra...

The 2023 “Ring of Fire”: What It Is and Why It Matters The countdown is on to one of the most exciting space phenomena you can see with the naked eye from down here on earth: the 2023 annular eclipse. Some people wait their whole lives to experience the magic that is a solar eclipse and see the famous “ring of fire.” At Rainbow Symphony, we’ll walk you where to see this next annular eclipse in the U.S., explain what a “ring of fire” is, and give you safe viewing tips. Eclipse Basics A solar eclipse occurs when the moon either totally or partially...

5 Reasons an Annular Eclipse is as Cool as a Total Eclipse There’s no denying that a total solar eclipse is a truly epic event. Yet, let’s be honest, most people only have a rare opportunity to see a total solar eclipse. There are a few reasons for this: Total solar eclipses are extraordinarily rare events, happening only once or every other year. That's not a lot and many of these events happen over sparsely populated areas. The path of totality for a total solar eclipse (the area that achieves total darkness) is fairly narrow, typically around...

Solar Halos: What Are They, and How Do They Appear? Key Takeaways Solar halos form when sunlight is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by ice crystals in high, thin clouds. The most common solar halo is the 22° halo, a faint circular ring that appears around the Sun. Sun dogs, light pillars, eclipse halos, and lunar halos are related sky phenomena with different causes and appearances. You should never look directly at the Sun while observing a solar halo or eclipse-related phenomenon. Have you ever looked at the sky and noticed that there ...

How Weather May Affect Your 2024 Eclipse Visibility It’s not too early to start preparations for the next major solar eclipse in 2024. Although there will be other eclipses before then, April 8, 2024 represents the next best opportunity for a wide swath of the United States and Mexico (along with a smaller part of Canada) to view this astronomical phenomenon. Something as fascinating as viewing an eclipse shouldn’t be left to chance. Choosing your location is the most important decision you can make in this process. Additionally, veteran eclip...

What Causes the Northern Lights? Key Takeaways The Northern Lights happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Different gases and altitudes create different aurora colors, from green and yellow to red, blue, and purple. Auroras are easiest to see in dark, northern locations during the colder months, especially when solar activity is high. The appearance of rainbows after a rain shower and the disappearance of the Sun during a total solar eclipse are not the only observable n...

The Solar System for Kids: 3 Famous Solar Astronomers Today, kids studying astronomy and the solar system benefit from modern technology, sophisticated telescopes, affordable solar astronomy tools, and centuries of observation to better understand the relationship between the entire solar system, the sun, and the earth. But hundreds of years ago, there were only a few scientists who were bold enough to challenge the accepted theories of the solar system. Let’s take a look at three of the most important early solar astronomers –– Copernicus, Brah...

Part 1: An Intro to the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Rainbow Symphony has been producing the safest eclipse glasses since the 1990s, so we decided to put together some detailed info about solar eclipse viewing dates and times, locations, eclipse safety instructions, and more. We hope this guide is helpful as you plan your viewing experience! Back in 2017, some United States residents were treated to a total solar eclipse. This astronomical phenomenon caused excitement for many. However, there was a large swath of the population that wasn’t in t...

The Science Behind Fully Double Rainbows Throughout history, mankind has interpreted the appearance of a rainbow in the sky as a good omen –– a sign that the storms have passed and better days are ahead; a bridge between the earthly realm and that of the heavens; or even a marker pointing to the location of a hidden pot of gold! However you interpret the appearance of a rainbow, we now know that there is a scientific explanation for why it occurs in the first place. But if you’re especially lucky, you may have seen a fully double ra...