Nature & position · News English
Where is the Sun?
A new rainbow report has a surprising answer.
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Read the story, check the words, then answer the questions and speak.
Look behind you
Is the Sun in front of the person looking at the rainbow?
1NASA’s picture report for 20 October shows an unusual rainbow in Italy. A person took the picture with a phone in Presenzano. It was sunset. The person saw the rainbow while hanging up clothes.
2In that picture, light seems to come from near the hills in front. But the Sun is not there. For this rainbow, the Sun is behind the person looking at it. Light from the Sun meets falling rain and comes back towards the person.
3Gaps in clouds let light cross the sky. The light seems to meet in front. This makes the view surprising.
4Our background photo shows a different rainbow from 2017. It is not the reported Italian picture. Open the NASA source to see that picture.
Original teaching summary. Models and learning examples are illustrative, not news quotations.
Word help · Three useful words
Read the meanings and examples. Choose one word to use in your own sentence.
rainbow
a curved line of colours in the sky
I can see a rainbow.
behind
at the back of
The tree is behind the house.
sunset
the time when the Sun goes down
The sky is red at sunset.
Check your reading · Three questions
Choose one answer for every question, then check. You can change an answer and check again.
Useful English
The Sun is behind the person. The hills are in front of the person. Use these phrases to describe position.
Speak for 20 seconds
Describe two things near you using behind and in front of.
Speak: your ideas
Describe two things near you using behind and in front of.
Labelled model answer
Model: The wall is behind me. My desk is in front of me.
Illustrative learning example, not a news quotation.
Alone: repeat without the model. Tutor: ask a follow-up question.
Mastery check · Three questions
Choose one answer for every question, then check. You can change an answer and check again.
Sources and reporting date
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day dated 20 October 2026. Exact time and timezone unstated; earliest possible worldwide start used conservatively: 19 October at 10:00 UTC.
- APOD: An Anticrepuscular Rainbow Fan
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day dated 20 October 2026. Exact time and timezone unstated; earliest possible worldwide start used conservatively: 19 October at 10:00 UTC. - Photograph source
Background rainbow photograph, 21 March 2017. Not the reported Presenzano rainbow.