Why is it possible to see a circural rainbow when you are in an airplane, yet it is impossible from the ground

Question

Why is it possible to see a circural rainbow when you are in an airplane, yet it is impossible from the ground

Answer 1

In simple terms you are looking at ground level from the ground, yet when you are a few hundred yards above the ground, A.E. on a moutain or in a plane, you see twice as much as you normaly would.

Answer 2

It is possible to see one from the ground.  I've seen them.  Any rainbow will be circular unless there's ground in the way.  Any high, steep hillside will do.

Answer 3

You CAN see a circular rainbow from the ground; I have.

This is ONLY dependant upon the angle of the light source to the viewer.

Essentially, ALL rainbows are circular, but the angle of the sun often hides a portion below the horizon.  This is usually because the best viewing of rainbows are not during midday sun.

I have seen multiple rainbows at midday around the sun.

Remember that a rainbow is refraction of light through moisture.  This is an everyday occurance, though we rarely get to "see" them, unless the sun is less bright and lower in the sky.

Watch a water sprinkler create a rainbow,  and then look at it from underneath.  The refraction is always a matter of angle to the light source,

Answer 4

You can see the same from the tops of mountains. It' called a Brocken Spectre.

Answer 5

Cuz in the sky is much different from looking up from the ground obviously.