Ice crystals are not round and they create different patterns depending on the shape they take. Look up sun halos. There is even a specific one called a sun dog.
Probably not. I would think the more likely outcome is either a very patchy rainbow or none at all. The sphere shape is what is giving you the continuous rainbow, not making it circular. The fact that each color is at a specified angle relative to you / the incidence angle of sunlight does that part.
It would produce a completely different effect. Ice crystals, which tend to be hexagonal prisms, produce some atmospheric optical effects and they can be a variety of shapes.
This is interesting, but what I want to know is what shape they would be if water droplets were not round.
Like, if they were cuboid or pyramidal instead, would that change the shape of the rainbow?
Ice crystals are not round and they create different patterns depending on the shape they take. Look up sun halos. There is even a specific one called a sun dog.
Probably not. I would think the more likely outcome is either a very patchy rainbow or none at all. The sphere shape is what is giving you the continuous rainbow, not making it circular. The fact that each color is at a specified angle relative to you / the incidence angle of sunlight does that part.
It would produce a completely different effect. Ice crystals, which tend to be hexagonal prisms, produce some atmospheric optical effects and they can be a variety of shapes.
Great question, I never thought of that.
I tend to think it would be just a blur of different colors mixed together, probably not even visible.