Rainbow & Parabola

[Otto]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Weaver" <mikeweaver at gn.apc.org>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: Rainbow & Parabola


> Rainbows are produced by the deflection of light by raindrops, the
position
> of the rainbow is unique for every observer.
> The light is revealed as a continuum of colours.
>

And don't forget that you have to have the sun in your back, otherwise you
won't see a rainbow:

"So bliebe denn die Sonne mir im Rücken.
Allein wie herrlich, diesem Sturm erspriessend,
Wölbt sich des bunten Bogens Wechseldauer,
Bald rein gezeichnet, bald in Luft zerfließend,
Umherverbreitend duftig kühle Schauer.
D e r spiegelt ab das menschliche Bestreben.
Ihm sinne nach, und du begreifst genauer:
Am farbigen Abglanz haben wir das Leben."
Goethe, Faust, II, Zeilen 4715, 4721-27

Goethe, who was both poet and scientist, knew that.

Otto