This holiday is all about brightening someone’s day and expressing your adoration, so why not make it count? Here are four unforgettable Valentine’s Day presents that can be personalized just for your valentine!
Place our rainbow suncatchers in a sunny window, and watch in amazement as the room comes alive with beautiful rainbows! Every time your valentine enters the room, they’ll think fondly of you and your gift.
We can customize these unique Valentine’s gifts with your artwork and message. Tuck a few custom suncatcher window decals into a Valentine’s Day card, or hang them in a window as a magical surprise. Our suncatchers are removable so you can change up the room’s rainbows anytime, too!
Custom holographic stickers look amazing on their own or alongside our dazzling suncatchers—they really pop when they catch the sun! These creative Valentine’s Day gifts can be personalized with art of your valentine, a quote, a nickname, or anything else you dream up.
Our shiny, shimmery holographic stickers are made in-house here in Los Angeles to ensure the highest level of quality. We’re experienced holography experts who will make sure your unique Valentine’s gifts are worthy of the love you share with your valentine.
Our custom-made stickers uses cutting-edge printing technology so the colors are vibrant and the imagery is crisp. Thick vinyl and permanent adhesive mean these stickers will stay wherever you stick them.
These top-quality stickers would make a lovely addition to a card, or you could use them to add a custom touch to another gift. For example, you could cover a notebook filled with poetry in custom stickers to make a keepsake your valentine will cherish for life.
Here’s one of the most fun and unique Valentine’s gifts—decoder greets! They’re cool cards with secret messages that can only be revealed when viewed with our decoder glasses or spyglass decoder.
These creative Valentine’s Day gifts could be used for a gift hunt! Put a clue on each one, and hide them around the house. Your valentine can play detective as they figure out where their present is hiding.
Now that you have some great gift ideas, it’s time to order your personalized items for the big day! We’ll have your order ready in just 7-10 business days. Celebrate love with unique Valentine’s gifts from Rainbow Symphony!
]]>While eclipses are still breathtaking events today, we know why and how they occur. Imagine the astonishment, awe, confusion, and fear the early humans must have felt so long ago when day abruptly turned to night and the sun turned black with a brilliant halo surrounding it.
Across the globe, ancient civilizations have written the ongoing history of solar eclipses. Here’s a look at a few interesting accounts of eclipses of the past.
According to NASA, the earliest recording may be spiral-shaped carvings made in three ancient stone monuments called the Loughcrew Cairns that were discovered in County Meath, Ireland in 1999. These symbols showed the alignments of the sun, moon, and horizon and are believed to reference an eclipse that occurred on November 30, 3340 BCE.
Ancient Chinese civilizations kept excellent records of the history of eclipses. One particularly noteworthy account comes from a document called the Shujing: "On the first day of the last month of autumn, the Sun and Moon did not meet harmoniously in Fang.”
To assign dates to the history of solar eclipses, scholars use context clues. For example, the word “Fang” in this text refers to a section of the sky that can only be seen from a certain location, and it’s known that the eclipse occurred during the reign of Zhong Kang who was an emperor of the Xia Dynasty. This information shows that the eclipse occurred on October 22, 2137 BCE.
It’s no surprise that ancient solar eclipses appear in religious texts. Because so little was known about these mysterious celestial events, it was quite common to assign eclipses supernatural origins and meanings.
The history of solar eclipses often corresponds with ancient writings—matching events with eclipses can reveal fascinating information beyond just when the eclipses occurred.
For example, in the Christian Bible, there’s a passage that says that the moon turned to blood after Jesus was crucified. This may be a reference to a lunar eclipse, which makes the moon appear to be reddish-orange. Some researchers believe Jesus’ crucifixion occurred on Friday, April 3, 33 BCE because a lunar eclipse happened on that day.
The Quran also mentions two important solar eclipses: one occurred before Mohammed’s birth, and the other occurred on the day of his son Ibrahim’s death.
The history of solar eclipses is incredibly long—we’ve hardly scratched the surface! Stay tuned to the Rainbow Symphony blog for more fascinating insight into modern and ancient solar eclipses. Our Eclipse section also has some great information about upcoming eclipses and eclipse safety.
There’s a reason so many civilizations have kept records of eclipses—they’re amazing! Witnessing one is an event you’ll never forget. Order ISO and CE certified solar eclipse glasses at Rainbow Symphony for a safe, high-clarity viewing experience. Our specialty solar viewers lenses are made of scratch-resistant materials, featuring grade-five optical density. This guarantees absolute protection from potentially harmful solar radiation. “Black Polymer” completely filters out 100% of ultraviolet light, infrared light, and 99.999% of intense visible light. The filters placed on the lenses will produce an orange-colored image of the sun delivered with sharper clarity. We can also customize eclipse glasses for your business or event. Shop our eclipse store’s selection now!
]]>We have 3D light glasses to make this year’s Halloween a boOoOo-tiful and terror-ific experience! Take your haunted house’s thrills and chills to the next level with our eye-popping RainbowDepth™ Color Shift 3D Glasses. These spook-tacular spectacles allow you to really get creative with your Hallow’s Eve decorating. Create a magical, multidimensional dreamland…or a spine-tingling nightmareland, if you prefer!
RainbowDepth™ Color Shift 3D Glasses transform reality in real time by shifting colors in the spectrum. Red is pulled closer to the viewer while deep blue is pushed to the background. This results in a stark contrasting effect that causes a dynamic sense of 3D that you can only get from our light show glasses. Bring your most ghostly, ghastly, and ghoulish apparitions to life!
You can use our RainbowDepth™ Color Shift 3D Glasses to give natural scenery a pop of 3D, but catering your decorations specifically to the glasses is the skeleton key that unlocks their extraordinary potential—your guests will shiver and quiver with delight and fright!
Experiment with fluorescent black light paints. Decorate with glow-in-the-dark stickers. Make your own original art with sidewalk chalk, markers, and crayons. Print designs and images that are coded with the RainbowDepth™ method. Play video footage on TVs or projectors. Watch in awe as your laser and light shows become an otherworldly encounter.
You don’t need to revamp your entire haunted house to use our light show glasses, but we highly recommend unleashing their magic to the fullest! Even if you keep your haunted house or Halloween decor the same as last year, simply handing out Halloween 3D glasses will add an enchanting touch to the occasion.
Halloween only comes around once a year, so make it count with unforgettable promotional items with your branding. Whether you host a haunted house, operate a spooky hayride, or light up a pumpkin patch, customized RainbowDepth™ Color Shift 3D Glasses will give your event a professional polish that’ll keep guests coming back year after year.
We can make light show glasses with your original design, or our graphics experts can help out. Check out some of the glasses we’ve made for our clients if you need some inspiration. We’re known for our rapid turnaround times and quality, so don’t hesitate to get your order in before the Halloween season strikes!
Our 3D Glasses and Fireworks Glasses are renowned for their quality and performance— it’s no surprise that they’re used by major brands all over the world. If you’re trying to find a way to elevate your Halloween presentation to new heights, this is it!
RainbowDepth™ light show glasses are guaranteed to give goosebumps and get guests gasping with glee, so don’t be surprised when the word travels fast and your haunted house has a line out the door! From magnificent dance parties to maleficent seance rituals, a bonafide bone-chilling bonanza awaits. No sorcery, spells, or hocus pocus of any kind necessary—order Halloween 3D light glasses at Rainbow Symphony today!
]]>Follow these six tips to make the most out of the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse!
Because this is such a monumental celestial event, there are going to be a whole lot of people planning to see it. The Great North American Total Solar Eclipse 2024 happens on April 8, but you should have your viewing equipment in hand and your plans solidified long before the big day.
After the upcoming total solar eclipse, the next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous U.S. won’t be until August 23, 2044 — more than 20 years later! For many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so don’t wait until the last minute. Now is the time to start making travel arrangements (if you plan to travel) and ordering your solar-viewing products.
In part 1 of our Great North American Total Solar Eclipse 2024 viewing guide, we covered the American states where the path of totality will pass through. Now, let’s look into how to watch the solar eclipse in some of those states’ best viewing locations.
Dallas, Texas
Begins: 12:23 p.m.
Ends: 3:02 p.m.
Idabel, Oklahoma
Begins: 12:28 p.m.
Ends: 3:06 p.m.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Begins: 12:33 p.m.
Ends: 3:11 p.m.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Begins: 12:39 p.m.
Ends: 3:15 p.m.
Paducah, Kentucky
Begins: 12:42 p.m.
Ends: 3:18 p.m.
Evansville, Indiana
Begins: 12:45 p.m.
Ends: 3:20 p.m.
Cleveland, Ohio
Begins: 1:59 p.m.
Ends: 3:20 p.m.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Begins: 2:02 p.m.
Ends: 4:30 p.m.
Buffalo, New York
Begins: 2:04 p.m.
Ends: 4:32 p.m.
Burlington, Vermont
Begins: 2:14 p.m.
Ends: 4:37 p.m.
Lancaster, New Hampshire
Begins: 2:16 p.m.
Ends: 4:38 p.m.
Caribou, Maine
Begins: 2:22 p.m.
Ends: 4:40 p.m.
Safety is the highest priority when viewing any solar event. You must wear your eclipse glasses throughout the entire duration of the partial phases of total solar eclipse 2024.
There is only one exception, during totality, when the sun is completely blocked by the moon. At that point, you can remove your glasses and view Totality with the naked eyes. As soon as the totality phase ends, you must put your viewing glasses back on for the remainder of the event.
Total solar eclipses are multisensory experiences! During the full totality phase, everything gets dark, but that’s not all. Feel the temperature — it can drop by as much as 15 degrees Fahrenheit! Bring a thermometer to track the change in real time.
Listen to the ambient sounds of nature while you watch the total solar eclipse 2024. Animals like birds that are usually silent at night may abruptly stop singing. Animals like crickets that are active at night may start chirping. Pay attention to the fascinating auditory shifts that occur. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity to really witness first-hand how much of an impact the sun has on the planet and its inhabitants.
Wondering how to watch the solar eclipse in style? Celebrate this extraordinary occasion with custom eclipse glasses, eclipse viewers, or eclipse greets novelty postcards designed with your preferred colors, images, shapes, and any other branding you can dream up!
The total solar eclipse 2024 is right around the corner, so order your solar eclipse glasses before they start flying off the shelves. Check out our Commemorative Eclipse Glasses — they’re available in two fun styles: design 1 and design 2.
Our eclipse glasses are trusted by NASA and AAS, and certified to meet ISO standard 12312-2:2015. They’re also "CE" Certified, meeting standards for transmission for scale 12-16 of EN 169/1992 for safe solar viewing. All Rainbow Symphony’s eclipse glasses meet the 2012 Transmission Requirements of EN 1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 for eclipse filters (Queensland Directive). And our specialty lenses have scratch-resistant materials with grade-five optical density, guaranteeing protection from solar radiation. “Black Polymer” blocks out 100% of ultraviolet light, infrared light, and 99.999% of intense visible light, and the filters on the lenses produce orange-colored imagery of the sun, with sharper detail and imagery.
We hope this guide on how to watch the solar eclipse is helpful as you prepare for this momentous occasion. Check our blog for more eclipse information, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. Enjoy safe solar viewing with ISO- and CE-certified eclipse glasses, available at Rainbow Symphony now!
]]>Imagine a piece of yummy chocolate with a smooth surface that shines in all the colors of the rainbow. It’s not make-believe. It’s called iridescent chocolate, or sometimes holographic chocolate, or rainbow chocolate — and you can make it yourself!
This recipe is perfect for parents and teachers, and it makes for a fun (and edible!) science experiment. It takes less than half an hour, and you don’t need any special chemicals to coat the chocolate. This is pure physics and the magic of science at work.
To make your own holographic chocolate, the only special thing you will need is one of our diffraction grating sheets. We recommend this diffraction grating. Or, if you are purchasing for an entire school, we also sell our diffraction grating material by the roll.
Iridescent chocolate works by using the properties of light. Diffraction gratings have microscopic grooves on them that cause the different wavelengths of white light to crash into each other, creating interference patterns. This creates the rainbow effect. It’s the same phenomenon that gives CDs and DVDs their rainbow-colored light. (And, unlike a CD, holographic chocolate is safe to eat.)
You will need to use tempered chocolate for this technique to work. Any plain chocolate bar from the store will do, or you can temper your own.
Chocolate can have different microscopic forms, and the fine crystalline structure of tempered chocolate is necessary for creating the rainbow effect in holographic chocolate.
Tempered chocolate has a great snap that consumers love, so most commercial chocolate is tempered. Just make sure it doesn’t melt and resolidify before you use it, as this will ruin the tempering.
Yes! The material is non-toxic, and none of it gets into the food. (Don’t put it in the oven, though. It’s not like parchment paper.)
Before making your iridescent chocolate, wash your diffraction grating with soap and water first in order to remove any impurities. Don’t scrub the grating with a sponge or pad. When it’s clean, allow it to air dry rather than using a towel.
Our favorite recipe for holographic chocolate is the one from Popular Science, which has been making science cool for over 150 years.
Their recipe uses a Rainbow Symphony diffraction grating, just like the one we recommended above, so we are very flattered! Making fun educational aids for the study of light and color is one of the original reasons we founded Rainbow Symphony, and it always makes us happy to see our science tools being used in projects like this.
Holographic chocolate is delicious, but it only lasts until you eat it. For some non-edible alternatives that create rainbows for years on end, check out our suncatchers and rainbow decals.
For more projects, educational inspirations, and information about upcoming solar eclipses that you will want to use our popular ISO- and CE-certificatied solar eclipse glasses to safely view, check out our blog.
]]>At Rainbow Symphony, we use laser technology to create the best window prism film that beams with spectral colors. This diffraction film is easy to apply and remove, and features a mix of our prismatic patterns: radial axicon, spectra star, cracked ice, ambrosia, and confetti.
But the question remains: how do you choose the best rainbow window film for your space? Below, we’ll break down the various patterns of film we offer and offer a few tips for picking the perfect one for you! It is important to know that for every space the material is in, the rainbows will always be one-of-a-kind, depending on the sun position and the light brought into the room. Every rainbow is unique to your room and the time of day!
Pattern: Our most vibrant pattern yet, this playful large shaped pattern will be sure to wow you with rainbow saturation! Our newest pattern is a playful mix of squares, triangles, and circles and is sure to put a smile on your face. If you’re looking to cover large surface areas and have the most beautifully clear mix of colors, Confetti is your match and one of the best rainbow window films for you! A little film goes a long way!
Pattern: The Spectra Star is the most calming pattern. It washes the room with a watercolor-like effect creating a wider set of rainbows. It’s one of the best rainbow window film choices for those looking to create a tranquil mood that’s perfect for yoga, meditation, or just relaxing.
Rainbow Projection: This is one of the best rainbow window film options for those looking to create a wide array of different rainbows ranging from wide set wash of colors to randomized sharp rainbow patterns across the room.
Once you’ve selected the perfect Rainbow Symphony window film for your space, the hard part is over! Installation is a breeze, and in no time you’ll be enjoying the gorgeous flood of light and color that comes with using the best rainbow window film. Simply follow the instructions outlined below, or watch this short YouTube video.
That’s it! You’re done. Now you can fully appreciate the phenomenon of light diffraction and the majesty of rainbows.
If you like our decorative rainbow window film, you’ll love our entire selection of rainbow decals, stickers, and rainbow suncatchers! These decorative products offer even more options to brighten up your home, office, or wherever you’d like magical rainbow color. These are the best rainbow window films as they will never fade, are made in Los Angeles, and will project the brightest color you’ll ever see! The effect will be absolutely spectacular, we promise!
Browse the entire category Rainbow Symphony suncatchers and window films to find the reflective rainbow item that suits your unique style. If you have any questions about our products, choosing the best window prism film, or if you would like to inquire about customization options, don’t hesitate to reach out today! Add a splash of stunning color to your space with Rainbow Symphony window film!
]]>If you’ve never tried our diffraction glasses before, you’re in for a treat! Words simply can’t do them justice — seeing is believing. As soon as you put on our party favor glasses, every twinkle of light transforms into a breathtaking rainbow starburst effect. Even ordinary lights become extraordinary displays of radiant color, so you can only imagine what it’s like to watch fireworks, light shows, lasers, and other visual stimuli. They’re also amazing for viewing the night sky.
Our cardboard Fireworks and Rainbow Glasses are perfect for tucking into a party favor bag or simply handing out to the crowd. We also offer Rave Glasses if you’re looking for something with an extra dose of style. Made out of sturdy plastic, our neon shades are a great choice if you’re planning to dance the night away. These party favor glasses come in a variety of cool styles, including flip-up lenses, futuristic wraparounds, classic retro designs, and more.
New Year’s glasses are the ultimate party favor, but don’t stop there! Our Custom Holographic Decals are such a unique handout that your friends will absolutely adore. These glowing works of art look stunning when placed in a sunny area — especially when viewed with our diffraction glasses. Hand them out at midnight to commemorate the occasion. Create your own custom design, and we’ll bring it to life within 7-10 business days.
We have plenty of party favor glasses in stock and ready to ship out now. However, if you really want to make a major impact at your event, consider Custom Fireworks and Rainbow Glasses. If you can dream it, we can make it! Our team has created custom items for many concerts and festivals, including Katy Perry’s Prismatic Tour and Paul McCartney on tour. We’ve also worked on many high-profile campaigns for household names like NASA, Coca-Cola, Google, Vice, Lululemon, and plenty of others. Let’s work together to make your New Year’s event unforgettable!
Don’t wait until the last minute to order your New Year’s glasses and other goodies. If you have any questions about our party favor glasses, or to inquire about bulk pricing, please contact us now. The holiday may come around every year, but every New Year only happens once! Make this year’s New Year’s the best one yet with Rainbow Symphony!
]]>The tech behind decoder glasses is not as complicated as you may think, but that doesn’t make the illusion any less effective… or entertaining. These secret message glasses can unscramble a message by filtering out all colors except for one specific hue. When you look at a secret message hidden in a jumble of colors, the ink found in the color of the lenses stands out, revealing the message that was before concealed to the naked eye.
This simple optical illusion has some very fun and unique applications that kids and adults alike can enjoy. Here are a couple of ideas for how you can use secret message glasses.
Want to create your own “top secret” message? You can easily do it with a pair of decoder glasses and a few colorful writing instruments. Here’s what you’ll do:
Step 1: Order a sample of decoder glasses from us! You cannot start your decoder journey without testing along the way.
Step 2: Understanding your Colors - Decoders are all about filtering properly. If you are working with red lenses, your secret message artwork or text should be cyan or a light blue.
If you are using a blue lens, you'll want to make your secret message component yellow!
If you choose to do a green decoder, which is a much more difficult lens to work with, the secret message needs to be orange. (We recommend starting with a red or blue lens).
Step 3: Conceal Your Secret Message: If your secret message is cyan, conceal your artwork with different red hues! You can add pink, orange, and yellow around the artwork to throw off the eye, but make sure the secret message component is only being hidden by the reds! See the example of the color palette you can work with for secret message glasses, as well as a deconstructed decoder to understand the elements!
If your secret message is yellow and you’re using blue lenses, conceal it with shades of blue. You can incorporate teal and green shades to throw off the pattern a bit; you’ll want to make sure to only cover the secret message with blue!
An important step to note is, if you are using Illustrator, Photoshop, or other digital programs, make sure your decoder pattern’s transparency is set to “multiply” or manually make the artwork have some transparency to it! We’ve found that between 40%-70% transparency is a good range! If your pattern doesn’t have transparency, you won’t be able to see the secret message in the background.
Your decoder pattern can ultimately be anything you want. We work with small squares, hearts, smileys, squiggly lines, etc. Sometimes you can also just try to mix the elements together like the witch and ghost you see below! Play around with placement as you learn how decoder glasses work. As long as your colors are working together, you’ll be amazed at how well you can properly hide your secret message!
Step 4: Test, test, and test again! Creating a secret decoder is not always easy, but ends up being a rewarding and exciting element you’ve created that adds to your design! Keep in mind, if you are going to end up printing your decoder message, digital files and printed files can look different. Once all your elements are put together, you’ll likely have to lower the transparency of your secret message! We tend to lower our cyan or yellow secret message image or text to around 50% for print, however, play around with it through test printing, and you’ll be able to figure out what transparency works for your secret message glasses! Once you nail it, it’s so exciting!
Another helpful tip is to remember this is an optical illusion! You already know what is under your decoder pattern, so it will be much easier for you to see! That’s why we always recommend having a fresh pair of eyes to help you!
Step 5: Let us help you! If you’re not into creating your own decoder pattern, but have the secret message elements, send them our way! We have experts that can help you. We can provide the digital file back to you, print the entire decoder for you on our popular Decoder Greets, or print a simple postcard! You can also create custom decoder glasses that match with your branded item, too! Whatever you envision, we’ll work with you to make your idea come to life!
Step 6: Let your decoders shine! Whether they’re for marketing purposes or a fun way to invite someone to an event, decoders are a great promotional tool to get people talking, excited, and engaged. Slip on a pair of these secret message glasses to see the words jump right off the paper as the other colors fade away. It’s decoding magic. Enjoy your hard work and don’t forget we’re always here to help!
This is a fun way to share messages with friends or give the kids a creative surprise.
Have you been looking for a way for your company’s campaign to stand out from the rest? Consider using decoder glasses as a way to drum up both interest and business. You can hand these novelty items out to your customers as a free giveaway! This is a fun and unique way to catch your customer’s attention.
At Rainbow Symphony, we can help you personalize secret message decoder glasses. Simply send us your logo and any branding or color scheme you’d like to use. Before you know it, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind ad campaign that will directly tie into an increase in both customer engagement and sales.
Decoder glasses have a multitude of applications for both commercial and personal use. Whatever you decide to do with your glasses, make sure you purchase them from a company that has the ability to give you top-notch customer service whether you want to buy one pair of glasses or a thousand: Rainbow Symphony.
For almost 50 years, our family-owned company has been producing and selling our secret message glasses right here in the USA. Don’t let our humble roots fool you, though. We’ve worked with some of the biggest companies and concert promoters in the country over the years, while also providing tens of thousands of pairs of glasses to classrooms across the nation. We offer worldwide shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee on most of our catalog items. You can shop with confidence when you purchase from Rainbow Symphony.
Still want to know more about how decoder glasses work? Contact us today, and our staff of experts will be glad to assist you!
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The holiday season is famous for its incredible light shows, and our Rainbow & Fireworks Glasses take them to the next level by transforming lights into a stunning rainbow starburst effect! Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood admiring the neighbors’ light displays. Bring these unique stocking stuffers along to light festivals, parades, and other special events—especially as party favors glasses for New Year’s events. You can even use these versatile glasses to gaze at the stars and moon long after the holidays are over!
We carry many designs, but, of course, our snowflake and Santa rainbow glasses are the most popular variants this time of year. They’re available in packs ranging from quantities of 25 to 1,000 so you can buy enough for the whole extended family to enjoy, give everyone creative Christmas gifts at your holiday event, and stock up for future festive extravaganzas. Hand them out at light shows to make everyone’s holiday experience so much more memorable!
Looking for more unique stocking stuffers? If our rainbow glasses have captured your eye, you’re going to love our enchanting suncatchers! Hang them in sunny windows that get plenty of natural direct sunlight and watch in amazement as gorgeous rainbows dance around the room! Our suncatchers include a suction cup so you can reuse them year after year. Kids and adults alike will look forward to them as the star of the show when it’s time to put up the decorations.
We carry a wide variety of rainbow suncatchers and rainbow decals so you can enjoy rainbow decor all year round. But, our Christmas decals, like our snowman suncatcher, holiday wreath suncatcher, and Santa Claus suncatchers, make for unique stocking stuffers this time of year. View them with our rainbow glasses for a breathtaking visual experience!
Decorating a window with individual suncatcher decals is always fun! If you’re looking for even more color and even more spectacular rainbows, your loved ones will adore our suncatcher sheets!
These Holographic Rainbow Window Film is our brightest and best suncatcher patterns that will make any rainbow-lover happy. Once the sheet is placed against the window, watch in wonder as a party of colorful shapes explodes in your room. Perfect to give as creative Christmas gifts for the kids, and maybe even grab some unique stocking stuffers for yourself this year!
Holiday lights make this time of year so jolly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy colorful lights anytime! Our Rainbow F/X Light is compatible with any standard lamp or lighting fixtures, allowing you to fill any space with all of the colors of the rainbow spectrum. They look amazing on porches too!
We also have color-changing beads that are perfect for making unique holiday decorations. They appear to be white, but after “charging” them in the sun, they change to bright orange, yellow, pink, blue, and purple. Put them on strings and hang them around the window by your suncatchers to fill the room with color!
Holographic stickers are unique stocking stuffers that inspire good cheer all year round! As holography experts, we use only the best materials to create iridescent stickers that shine and shimmer in all colors of the rainbow. We can even make custom holographic stickers with any design you can dream up—imagine the happy faces when the kids pull personalized stickers from their stockings!
You could also make your own meaningful gifts, holiday cards, and Christmas decals with holographic sticker material. Available in a variety of dazzling patterns, this radiant film is compatible with cutting machines like Cricut or Silhouette, or simply cut them by hand. Get crafty and creative with it!
Magnets are unique stocking stuffers that make any magnetic surface merry! These creative Christmas gifts make fantastic decorations on vehicles and refrigerators, and they can also be used to spruce up school lockers, file cabinets, metal doors, appliances, and all sorts of other metal objects. Be sure to check out our holographic magnets, too!
We can also create custom-printed magnets with holiday-themed imagery, or anything else that you can imagine. You could even make magnets with each family member’s face!
From unique stocking stuffers to one-of-a-kind decorations, we have items to make your holiday celebrations extra jolly! We recommend putting together a bundle to create a meaningful present for anyone who loves light, color, art, and science. Of course, our best-selling products are also perfect for stuffing into Christmas stockings to start the big day with smiles all around.
If you really want to make this year’s holidays special, consider our personalized products. We typically make promotional items for tradeshows, concerts, and other events, but we can customize all sorts of items according to your specifications. For example, you could make suncatchers and rainbow glasses with each family member’s name. Send us your artwork, and we’ll help you create unique stocking stuffers that will be treasured forever.
We hope this shopping guide gives you some inspiration as you do your holiday shopping. If you have any questions, or to inquire about custom designs, please contact us now. Discover Christmas decals and gifts for people of all ages at Rainbow Symphony!
]]>To put it simply, Fireworks Glasses are like prisms you can wear on your eyes! The special lenses diffract the light, transforming it into a breathtaking rainbow starburst effect that radiates brilliantly with all colors of the rainbow. They’re absolutely incredible for viewing fireworks, but that’s not all. Use them to look at ordinary household lamps, street lights, holiday lights, the night sky, and so much more. They’re great for playing with sparklers too!
We offer a wide variety of 4th of July glasses for any occasion. Of course, our American Flag #1 and American Flag #2 glasses are our most popular models for Independence Day, due to their patriotic designs that feature stars and stripes. Our plastic diffraction glasses are another fantastic choice for those looking to wear their glasses regularly. We even have neon diffraction glasses that are perfect for concerts and raves.
We’re happy to customize fireworks glasses with your company’s or event’s branding, your favorite colors, or anything else you can imagine. We’ve created custom products for many world-renowned artists, including Katy Perry and Paul McCartney! Concert-goers are always blown away by our 4th of July glasses, as they add a unique visual element that you just can’t get from traditional stage lighting. After all, color is to the eyes, what music is to the ears!
We’ve also made fireworks diffraction glasses and other customized items for many high-profile brands and organizations, including NASA, Coca-Cola, Google, Lululemon, Ben & Jerry’s, and Vice, to name a few of our past clients. We’ve been in business for nearly 50 years, so rest assured we have the skills and resources to deliver top-notch products tailored to your exact specifications.
Seeing is believing! Once you try our 4th of July glasses, you’ll never look at fireworks the same way again. Make them part of your yearly tradition—they’re so fun for people of all ages! After adding your favorite fireworks glasses to your cart, be sure to browse all of our products for more unique items rooted in science, education, light, color, and most importantly, fun! Celebrate the 4th of July in style with jaw-dropping diffraction glasses from Rainbow Symphony!
]]>Before we get into specific nebulae, it’s important that you understand what they are. To put it simply, they’re massive clouds of dust and gas (mainly helium and hydrogen) in interstellar space—the space between the stars. Some of them are formed by explosions caused by dying stars called supernovas. Others often referred to as “star nurseries,” are actually new “infant” stars in the process of being formed.
The Eagle Nebula is one cool nebula, mainly because of its stunning beauty and distinctive shape. Also known as the Star Queen Nebula, this majestic marvel was discovered by Jean-Philippe de Cheseaux in 1745–46. It’s located in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way, and it’s famously known for a specific section called the Pillars of Creation that was photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2 in 1995.
The Pillars of Creation is a relatively tiny portion of the Eagle Nebula. It’s famous because the pillars resemble a hand, giving the photo a very surreal quality that conjures visions of divine entities reaching through time and space. In short, it’s one cool nebula to look at and let your mind wander.
It’s impossible for the human mind to comprehend the size of any nebula in the Milky Way, but it sure is fun to try!
The Pillars of Creation are approximately 4-5 light-years in size, meaning it would take light 4-5 Earth years to travel the distance of the Pillars of Creation. That’s pretty big, right? We’re just getting started!
With a gargantuan size of 70 by 55 light-years, it would take around 70 years for light to travel the longest distance of the Eagle Nebula. That’s an unfathomable size, but it’s still not even close to the biggest cool nebula out there!
The largest known nebula in the Milky Way, the Gum Nebula, is approximately 1,000 light-years in diameter, while the largest known nebula, the Tarantula Nebula, is a staggering 1,800 light-years at its longest distance!
We encourage you to take a moment to look at the many photos of nebulae out there—they’re truly awe-inspiring. If you want to bring the gorgeous colors and abstract nature of cool nebulas into your life, check out our collection of helium and hydrogen gas tubes. In addition to seeing what the nebulas are truly made of, you can put on a pair of our linear diffraction glasses to watch how the spectrum of light breaks apart with both gasses!
While you’re here, explore all of our products to discover fascinating, science-based items that inspire a sense of wonder and stimulate the imagination. You can find more content about rainbows, solar astronomy, and so much more on our blog. So, find your favorite nebula in the Milky Way and bring the magic of interstellar space to your home with unique products from Rainbow Symphony.
]]>Our rainbow suncatcher stickers are just what you need to transform any space with windows into a breathtaking wonderland of color! Simply stick our holographic sheets or decals to any window that receives direct sunlight, and watch in awe as the room comes alive with dancing rainbows. We’re thrilled to bring you a wide variety of designs, so be sure to explore all of our rainbow suncatchers. Here are three of our favorites!
Gems and rainbows are a match made in heaven! Our Gem Series features a mix of spectra star, cracked ice, and radial axicon patterns, so you get a fantastic variety of rainbow shapes and textures from these rainbow suncatcher stickers. The gem shapes add a fun and playful vibe to your environment.
Whether you grew up in the ‘70s or just appreciate the aesthetic, you’re going to love our Daydreamer Series by Harley & J, a wonderful artist who creates pieces inspired by psychedelic music posters from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The gorgeous art combined with natural tones make these rainbow suncatcher stickers the ultimate decor for boho-chic homes.
Our Confetti Pattern Sheet radiates positive energy! With clusters of geometric shapes and vibrant rainbow hues, this holographic sheet looks fabulous in any window to brighten up your room!
As long as your windows get some sunlight, using these holographic sheets is a breeze! That said, there are some tips and techniques that can help you to really enjoy them to the fullest. Here’s how to maximize their impact:
We’ve barely scratched the surface with these three designs, so make sure you browse all of our suncatchers and rainbow decals to find the designs that fit the vibe of you and your space. We ship worldwide, and all of our non-custom products include 30-day returns to ensure your complete satisfaction. Turn any ordinary room into an extraordinary paradise of light and color with our rainbow suncatcher stickers!
]]>Whether you’re hosting a viewing party with your friends and family, your employees, or any of your fellow skygazers who decide to show up, our custom solar eclipse glasses will allow you to view the incredible spectacle safely and in style.
This very special eclipse is not to be missed! The 2023 solar eclipse is an annular eclipse, which many enthusiasts agree is the most astonishing kind! Annular eclipses are especially breathtaking because unlike a total solar eclipse, which is when the moon completely covers the sun, you’ll get to see the “ring of fire” surrounding the moon! It’s truly an otherworldly experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.
An eclipse is a magnificent sight, but viewing it can be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. It’s absolutely imperative that you only use eclipse glasses that meet all safety standards when viewing the 2023 solar eclipse.
Our solar viewers are trusted by NASA and the AAS, because they’re ISO and CE-certified, meaning they meet the standard for ISO 12312-2:2015 and the transmission requirements for scale 12-16 of EN 169/1992. All of our Eclipse Shades® also meet the 2012 Transmission Requirements of EN 1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 for eclipse filters (Queensland Directive). Crafted from innovative, scratch-resistance black polymer material, you can depend on the lenses to filter out all harmful infrared and ultraviolet light. They also shield your eyes from 99.999% of high-intensity visible light.
The 2023 solar eclipse is more than just a momentous celestial event; it’s an opportunity for businesses to get their teams excited about science and nature using some highly engaging promotional materials. If you remember the last total solar eclipse in August of 2017, you know that eclipse viewers tend to sell out fast. That’s why now is the time to stock up, before it’s too late!
Businesses looking to stand out from the crowd would be wise to customize eclipse glasses or viewers with their branding. Not only will these shades attract attention on the night of the eclipse, but they can be reused over and over, long after the 2023 solar eclipse has come and gone, including for the total eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Unlike fliers, business cards, brochures, and other boring marketing materials, people will be delighted to receive their eclipse glasses, and they’ll hold onto them and share them, spreading brand awareness every time.
Don’t be caught without custom solar eclipse glasses when October 2023 rolls around! We have a wide variety of customizable options besides standard cardboard eclipse glasses, including plastic eclipse glasses, eclipse viewers, and eclipse greets. Questions? Fill out our contact form, and we’ll respond soon, or feel free to call us at 800-821-5122 or at 818-708-8400, or email us at support@rainbowsymphony.com.
The 2023 solar eclipse is a rare chance to take advantage of an incredible marketing opportunity, so don’t miss it! Order ISO and CE-certified Eclipse Shades® with your company’s design today!
]]>Rainbow home decor is fun, beautiful, and so uplifting! There’s just something about a dazzling array of colors that makes a living space feel welcoming. Whether you adorn your castle with an explosion of vibrant colors or prefer a splash of prismatic accents here and there, these colorful home decor ideas are sure to make you smile every time you see them. Here are some of our favorite decorating tips to get you started.
Our rainbow suncatchers transform sunlight into an array of radiant hues that changes throughout the day. You know that warm, cozy feeling you get when a ray of sunlight shines through? This rainbow home decor takes that lovely ray and adds splendorous colors to the mix, creating a truly magical display that evokes wonder and awe. The magnificent effect causes colors to dance all over the room, giving you your own one-of-a-kind light show day after day.
The perfect complement to our suncatchers, our rainbow decals glow gorgeously when applied to a sunny window. With different patterns and themes, you’re sure to find an art style that speaks to you!
When it comes to colorful home decor ideas, the Original Rainbow F/X Light is one of the most popular rainbow home decor products out there, and for good reason! It fits right into your existing lamp or fixture, making it easy to add an enchanting vibe to any room, anytime the mood hits. In addition to our classic, the Original Rainbow F/X Light, we have a pastel version and a Mardi Gras version. Keep these bulbs on hand for impromptu dance parties and chill sessions, or leave them in permanently to transform any room into your go-to, personal haven.
For something that’s still vivid and striking, but more on the subtle side, consider hanging up rainbow art (ideally in a nice frame). In our opinion, in the world of rainbow home decor, Steffi Lynn reigns supreme! Her gorgeous art prints aren’t just a treat for the eyes—many of them feature positive, motivational, life-affirming messages that will serve as powerful reminders of your beliefs, philosophies, and goals.
From our glow-in-the-dark stickers to our rainbow fireworks glasses, Rainbow Symphony is the ultimate one-stop-shop for everything rainbows and more! Browse all of our products, and be sure to check out our customizable products if you want to add a personal touch or if you’re looking for unique promotional materials. We hope these colorful home decor ideas have provided some inspiration as you elevate your living space. Discover the magical world of rainbow home decor at Rainbow Symphony!
]]>Let’s take an in-depth look at supermoons, blood moons, and more.
Well, that depends on who you ask! There are varying definitions among astronomers and publications, although the differences are slight.
To put it simply, a supermoon is when a full moon is closest to the Earth, resulting in a radiant full moon that appears larger and brighter than a typical full moon. So, when it comes to keeping your eyes peeled for the supermoons 2022 will bring, be sure to check the date if you notice the moon looks especially, well, super!
In 2022, there will be two supermoons, but there could technically be four, depending on which definition you go by. NASA considers the moon’s closest point, or perigee, to be 226,000 miles from Earth, while other astronomers and researchers say 223,000 miles. Still others say that a supermoon happens when the full moon is within 90% of its closest distance to Earth.
The majority of experts use a distance of 223,000-226,000 miles as a qualification for being a supermoon, so by that definition, there will be two supermoons in 2022—the Strawberry Moon on June 14th and the Buck Moon on July 13th (dates may vary slightly depending on your time zone).
However, if you go by the aforementioned 90% definition, you could say there are four supermoons in 2022, with the Flower Moon occurring on May 16th and the Sturgeon Moon on August 12th.
It’s worth noting that what’s sometimes called a “blood supermoon” is actually a different phenomenon than a supermoon—although still quite super and definitely worth observing! A blood moon is when the moon is in a total lunar eclipse, meaning the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching it, resulting in the moon taking on a reddish-orange hue.
In addition to the two (or four) supermoons 2022 has in store, there will be two blood moons. One is the aforementioned Flower Moon on May 16th, and the other is the Frosty Moon on November 8th. If you’re fascinated by the supermoon phenomenon, be sure to mark your calendars for these blood moons too!
Have you ever noticed how the moon seems to shrink and grow over time? That’s because the moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle, but an oval shape called an ellipse. The farthest point of the orbit is approximately 253,000 miles away and is called the apogee. The closest point of the orbit is approximately 226,000 miles away and is called the perigee.
In other words, when you observe supermoons in 2022, the moon is actually closer to the perigee, and when the moon appears smaller, it’s closer to the apogee.
Because the ocean’s tides are directly affected by the moon’s gravitational pull, a supermoon creates higher high tides and lower low tides. In some cases—especially when exacerbated by low atmospheric pressure that can lead to storms and surges of waves—coastal flooding can occur.
If you’re as excited about the supermoon phenomenon as we are, now is the time to prepare for the upcoming supermoons in 2022! Our team is happy to help you select the best products for viewing the moon, so please don’t hesitate to send us an email at support@rainbowsymphony.com. Celebrate celestial magic with Rainbow Symphony!
]]>Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. As the earth awakens from its slumber and begins to bloom with life, it is your time to dispel the old, usher in the new, and create a space that inspires and invigorates you. What better to do this spring than to brighten up your space? If you’re looking for some fresh new ways to celebrate springtime, here are five colorful tips of welcoming spring that can help get your year off to a great start.
If you’re someone who loves to garden, there are so many spring garden ideas out there to help you take advantage of the new season and ensure that your garden is bustling with life. For those who grow their own food, colorful fruits and vegetables like raspberries, beets, and tomatoes are perfect to cultivate in the springtime. If you’re someone who prefers welcoming spring with flowers instead, you can grow sweet peas, pansies, and gladiolus. Nothing says “hello spring” like a garden full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers!
Is the interior of your home feeling just a bit drab? The good news is that your home is a blank canvas, always ready to be improved upon to reflect how you feel in the moment. You can switch things up with some rainbow decals. These small touches are super easy to place in your window and will light up your space with rainbows, beautifully. If you’re only looking to make some minor changes, rainbow window decals are an affordable and easy option to start welcoming spring into your home. Place these vibrant suncatcher rainbow window decals in your window that gets the most direct sunlight and watch your room come alive with rainbows! There are a wide array of designs to choose from that will be sure to fit any style space.
Minimalism is still a popular trend that’s represented in modern design but that doesn’t mean decor or furniture that makes a statement is out. If you’re looking for something that adds color and pulls your space together, try putting rainbow suncatchers in your window. Hang suncatchers or stick suncatcher window film to your windows that receive direct sunlight to bring rainbows and beauty into your home. Choose between holographic rainbow window film, and hanging suncatchers to add vibrant spectacles into your home.
Regardless of which space could use a refresher while you’re welcoming spring, the colorful suncatchers and decal options are endless.
Not all of the colorful ways to celebrate spring have to be purchased as-is. In many cases, there are a lot of DIY projects that people have wanted to do but simply haven’t found the right time to do them. What better time to take on new projects than spring?
Decorate your office workspace with organizational and fun details that will light up your room. No matter what welcoming spring looks like to you, there’s a DIY project to help you take advantage of the new year ahead.
Finally, the best way to usher in change and spring is by your wardrobe. Now’s the best time to add some warmer tones to your outfits, switch out bulkier outfits with lighter options, and break out your accessories as you don’t have to be bundled up anymore. Nature is not afraid to show itself in all its glory, as it breaks free of the gloom of winter, and neither are you!
Welcoming spring is simple when you have the right tools to add all the colors of the rainbow to your space. Whether you’re looking to add some rainbow suncatchers to your spring garden ideas for indoor gardening, stick some rainbow decals onto your glass, or add stickers to your DIY projects, the possibilities are only limited to your imagination. Even better, we offer worldwide shipping, 30-day returns for exchange or refunds on non-custom products, and 10 percent off your first order when you sign up for our newsletter. Shop now or get in touch with any questions you may have!
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Give Them Videos or Stories that Pique Their Curiosity and Stimulate Their Imagination
Kids love media, especially when certain topics are presented in a fun or exciting way that allows them to go on an adventure and step into the shoes of the explorer. When it comes to space, this is no different! Look for fun videos or books that help them learn more about our solar system and all of the wonders hidden within them in a fun, new way. If these books or videos feature exciting characters going on a host of adventures, this is even better. When kids can see the marvel that is space, they’re sure to get excited about it.
Look for Fun Space Activities That You Can Do With Them
Whether it’s space activities for kids or live celestial events, there are so many ways to go on your own space exploration with them. Here are a few ideas worth looking into:
If you’re looking to go on a field trip, consider visiting your local observatory! Observatories are packed with fun space gadgets that children can look through and learn more about, exhibits with interactive displays, events that are perfect for children, and so much more. Who is better to teach children more about space and get them excited than experts on astronomy?
If you're a parent or guardian looking to get your child interested in space, there are plenty of celestial events like meteor showers and lunar eclipses that happen throughout the year. If you’re an educator looking for space activities for kids that you can do during the day, you may feel you’re a bit limited, but one great idea is to take your students outside to go solar viewing! Looking at the sun isn’t reserved for just solar eclipses! With a safe pair of Eclipse Shades ®, you can view the sun any day! Your students will marvel at being able to see the sun safely and they may even get lucky and see a sunspot or two! If you happen to live in an area where an upcoming partial, annular, or total solar eclipse is visible, that’s even better! Just make sure that the event is always supervised and you stress the importance of not looking directly at the sun without a safe pair of Eclipse Shades ®.
You can protect your eyes from harmful solar radiation during eclipses and solar events with our eclipse glasses trusted by the AAS and NASA, which meet the standard for ISO 12312-2:2015. These space gadget glasses are "CE" Certified, meaning they meet the transmission requirements for scale 12-16 of EN 169/1992 for completely safe direct solar viewing. All of Rainbow Symphony’s eclipse sunglasses meet the 2012 Transmission Requirements of EN 1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 for eclipse filters (Queensland Directive).
Children’s imagination is limitless, making it easy for you to find space activities for kids that you can do together that will get them interested in space. One idea is to work on an art project together where you paint or draw each of the planets and discover fun new facts about them. If your audience is a bit older and likes bigger projects, you could always look for solar system models or spaceship models you can put together to set your own scene for a space epic. For those who are a bit more crafty, creating fun astronaut outfits and using star projectors and other fun space gadgets can make it feel as though you’re actually traveling the cosmos.
No matter what your age group is or what they like to do, there are plenty of great space activities for kids you can take advantage of.
If you’re looking to get children more excited about space and the sky above, we’re here to help!
Our specialty solar viewers lenses are made of scratch-resistant materials, featuring grade-five optical density. This guarantees absolute protection from potentially harmful solar radiation. “Black Polymer” completely filters out 100% of ultraviolet light, infrared light, and 99.999% of intense visible light. All of Rainbow Symphony’s eclipse sunglasses meet the 2012 Transmission Requirements of EN 1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 for eclipse filters (Queensland Directive). The filters placed on the lenses will produce an orange-colored image of the sun delivered with sharper clarity. We also have a host of fun solar education supplies that you can use in-person and in the classroom or another location to help them learn more about space!
If you’re looking for space activities for kids and tools to help you make the most out of your learning and exploration journey through the cosmos, place your order online or reach out to us at support@rainbowymphony.com today!
Here at Rainbow Symphony, we’re passionate about eclipses, but we’re equally as obsessive about eclipse safety. Before every major eclipse event, you’ll likely see news stories about fake glasses flooding the market. Yet, fake glasses are not the only consideration when it comes to safety for viewing a solar eclipse. How is a person supposed to know for sure that their eyes are safe during a solar eclipse?
We don’t want anyone to have the joy of their eclipse experience diminished by using an unsafe pair of eclipse glasses. Here are a few tips to help you keep eclipse safety front and center.
Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a solar eclipse. Eclipse glasses are not a toy. Make sure children are supervised by an adult.
Before you slip on a pair of eclipse glasses, ensure that they’ve been properly rated for eclipse viewing. Look for the ISO mark and ISO 12312-2:2015 This certifies that your glasses are safe for eclipse viewing. Make sure your glasses are from a reputable source. This information will also be on the inside of the frames. This rating is important because it denotes that the glasses have the proper certification to keep your eyes safe from harmful UV and IR radiation. Without this imprint, you cannot rely on the glasses to keep you safe.
Don’t stop at checking for a certification. There are unscrupulous vendors and individuals that will print an ISO rating on their glasses, even though their glasses have no such certification. This is why eclipse safety also requires that you do a bit of visual inspection to ensure that your glasses are genuine. Start with the lenses. All our eclipse glasses, filters and viewers are ISO rated for safety. The lenses are very dark. The only light you should be able to see is the sun, a filament in a clear light bulb or a very bright LED.
Once you’ve done that, put your glasses on and attempt to view a bright light such as a bright LED bulb, flashlight, or even the sun’s reflection off a shiny object. You should notice that all of these types of lights seem extremely dim when viewed through the lenses of your eclipse glasses. In fact, you shouldn’t be able to see anything very well (if at all).
Make sure your glasses are in good condition. Always check, whether you are reusing eclipse glasses from previous eclipses or a brand-new pair of eclipse glasses, check to make sure the frames and lenses are in good conditions without holes or separation from the frames. These lenses are very durable and it is a good practice to always check.
Eclipse safety is more than simply identifying a pair of fake glasses. You’ll also want to make sure your glasses are in good repair. Inspect your lenses carefully for any cracks, scratches, or other types of damage that would allow a light leak.
For almost 50 years, Rainbow Symphony has been on the cutting edge of engineering and producing the highest-quality Eclipse Shades, in addition to our other industry-leading products like Diffraction Grating Glasses and 3D Glasses, we pride ourselves on educating our customers on why eclipse safety is so vitally important.
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A pot of gold. The Land of Oz. For as long as there have been rainbows, there have been dreamers who have been wondering what’s on the other side of these awe-inspiring phenomenons. Of course, the closer you get to a rainbow, the more elusive it is, which only adds to their legendary mystique.
Throughout history, rainbow myths have become a part of our shared cultures. Some are so old that we don’t know how they started, while others come from stories in recent history. The various legends of rainbows that come from all over the world are a testament to mankind's fascination with this rare meteorological occurrence.
Of course, legends about rainbows are just that: legends. They may be fictional stories, but that doesn’t mean that these myths are completely free of any facts. Legends often start with curious dreamers—men and women who were captivated by the event they were witnessing but couldn’t explain. The closer they tried to get to the rainbow, the more unattainable they became. These distant and aloof bursts of light became the stuff of legends.
Of course, science teaches us that rainbows are a reflection of the visible spectrum of light — a phenomenon that occurs when light is reflected and dispersed off of faraway water droplets. In each rainbow, you can observe each color of the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and violet. However, if you lived hundreds or thousands of years ago, how would you describe the colors of the rainbow? How would you begin to explain its seemingly inexplicable origins? Let’s consider some of these stories to see how various cultures have described rainbows.
The Irish tradition of a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow is certainly not the oldest rainbow myth, but it may be the most pervasive in western culture. You’re almost certainly familiar with the particulars: a wealth of riches is stored at the end of every rainbow, which is carefully guarded by a leprechaun. But what is the origin of this legend? The details are a bit obscure, but it’s said the legend sprung from a story about a husband and wife who were farmers. A leprechaun cursed them for their greedy ways, storing their coveted treasures (you guessed it) at the end of the rainbow, which was just out of their reach.
In the mythology of the ancient Greeks, rainbows were the personification of the goddess Iris. This goddess was a messenger between Heaven and Earth, hence the representation of how the rainbow hangs between the two. In Homer’s epic the Iliad, Iris was a winged creature who specifically served as the messenger of Zeus. Her presence was always looked upon as a sign of hope, which certainly was a welcomed sign compared to many of the other erratic gods in the Greek pantheon!
No summary of legends about rainbows is complete without addressing how rainbows play a part in Chinese culture. Although these stories aren’t as familiar to those of us in the West, rainbow myths are a foundational part of many traditions of China.
The dragon is synonymous with the rainbow in Chinese culture as both dwell in the sky between heaven and earth. The word “hong” in Chinese means “rainbow,” and its character is drawn as a two-headed dragon with an arch in the middle that’s very reminiscent of a rainbow. Dragon and rainbow myths have many other things in common. For instance, both are elusive, and both exist in the realms of water and lightning. It’s an intriguing parallel!
For a relatively modern legend about rainbows, let’s consider L. Frank Baum’s series of books about the land of Oz written in the early 1900’s. In the Land of Oz, Rainbow was a personified character who was created by the Rain King. Rainbow was the father of several of the fairies of the land, including Polychrome. Of course, while most modern readers aren’t as familiar with Baum’s fourteen books about the Land of Oz, you likely are familiar with the classic movie where Dorothy, played by a young Judy Garland, wistfully sings of going “somewhere over the rainbow.”
Today, we may understand the science behind rainbows, but we find rainbow myths to be just as intriguing as ever. If you’d like to learn more of the stories about the intersection of science and imagination, follow Rainbow Symphony on Facebook or Instagram. You can also check out our blog for the latest in science, art, and innovation.
If you have questions about Rainbow Symphony or any of our products, contact us today!
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The day/night cycle is something that most of us take for granted. We know the sun will rise in the morning and we’ll be able to see even if it’s cloudy. Then the sun will go down and the world will turn dark. Sure, there are seasons where one is more dominant than the other, but most of us know we’re always going to have some of both.
Yet, for those who inhabit polar regions, this isn’t the case. These folks have times where they experience periods of 24 hours of “daytime” where the sun never sets. They also have times where they experience 24 hours of “nighttime.”
At Rainbow Symphony, we’re intrigued by all things related to the sun. Today, we wanted to tackle what it would be like to live in the polar regions during their annual period of perpetual darkness. What is a polar night? Let’s take a look!
The earth’s day/night cycle is based upon the fact that the earth takes 24 hours to make one complete rotation on its axis. As the world rotates, the sun dips below the horizon to the west and yields to darkness. Further rotation will have the sun rising in the east.
Because the earth is tilted on its axis, different regions of the earth get varying lengths of sunlight as the earth revolves around the sun. That’s why a town two hours north of where you live has different sunrise and sunset times. This plays out to its most extreme in the polar regions, where the tilt of the earth can cause the sun either to never set below the horizon or never rise above it for a certain period of time. The closer you get to the poles, this can mean that a person could experience periods of constant light or darkness for around 70 days at a time. Wow!
While most (but not all) of the regions that experience the longest periods of darkness are uninhabited, there are many populated areas where residents live through several weeks of polar night. The Scandinavian countries of Norway, Finland, and Sweden, as well as regions of Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska all experience this unusual phenomenon.
Living in these permafrost areas means that polar night isn’t simply a lack of light, they experience a lack of heat, as well. Have you ever noticed a drop in temperatures if you go from bright and sunny days to an overcast day? Less direct sunlight means less heat. Many of these areas experience sub 0° Celcius temperatures for weeks at a time during the polar night.
Our bodies have a natural rhythm that’s timed to the natural day/night cycle. This is part of the reason that jet lag can be hard to deal with because your body wants to be awake when it’s dark outside (or vice versa). Some folks who live through polar night have to make special provisions to help fight off both the physical and mental effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a type of depression brought on by lack of light.
Those who live in arctic regions often swear by natural light lamps which have timers that help simulate the typical cycles of the sun. These lamps help trick their body into snapping back into their natural rhythms. Saunas are also extremely popular in Scandinavia. It’s not unusual to see someone sit in a sauna, run outside for a plunge in the snow, and then run back inside to warm up again. These types of routines, along with many others, help keep both body and mind active instead of developing a mentality of hibernation.
While it would seem that depression would be rampant during times of polar night, ironically that’s not the case. In fact, there have been a few studies conducted that have shown that mental health actually improves for many during the period of polar darkness. This may seem strange, but it shouldn’t be.
For those who choose to live in these areas, they have often learned to see the best in their situation. They don’t endure polar night, many of them relish it. Since polar darkness doesn’t mean total darkness (for many, there are periods of twilight), residents often take opportunities for cross-country skiing along the breathtaking fjords. Many folks look forward to watching the elusive northern lights radiate their majestic beauty across the snowy terrain. Others enjoy communal gatherings during the polar night period, as communities often go out of their way to encourage each other through the long winter.
Now that you know what a polar night is, check out our Rainbow Symphony blog to learn more. We have a host of articles written by our experts that give you the fascinating stories behind the science.
If you have any questions about Rainbow Symphony or our products, reach out to our customer service team today!
]]>We asked some of the folks here at Rainbow Symphony what they thought were the best rainbow gifts for adults. We’ve compiled their ideas below to help make your holiday shopping list go from to-do to done!
Want to give the gift of a brand new perspective? That’s exactly what you do when you give someone a pair of unique fireworks glasses. They put a fresh and exciting twist on run-of-the-mill New Years fireworks displays and laser light shows.
Fireworks glasses (sometimes also called “rave glasses”) are diffraction glasses that take the bursts of light that come from a fireworks show, holiday light show, or tree lighting and turn them into a cascade of rainbow colors. As your friend slips on these glasses, they’ll experience an entirely new perspective as firework bursts turn into an electric visual rainbow display.
Shopping for someone who is the creative type? Turn their artistic masterpieces into decals! Suncatcher decals just need a little bit of sunlight to cast a beautiful array of colors across the room. To give the gift of custom decals, you will need to send us your (or your loved one’s) artwork. We can take it from there! Once you get the decals, put them in a window and watch your custom creations shine.
If you’re interested in giving your creative friend custom suncatcher decals, contact us today so we can help!
Do you have an astronomy lover in your life or did you know there is going to be an annular solar eclipse in 2023? Solar viewing can be such an exciting experience any time of year, but if you are planning a trip to see the 2023 annular eclipse, you know it is surprisingly easy to forget that one little thing you really should have bought for your trip. Now is the perfect time to give the solar viewer in your life the means to view this incredible event safely. High-quality eclipse glasses that have the proper safety certifications can make a huge difference while viewing this celestial phenomenon.
It also won’t take long before these glasses are needed again. There will be a total solar eclipse in 2024!
If you are friends with someone who loves light and color, consider suncatchers as the perfect rainbow gift for adults. Just place or hang any of these suncatchers in a window with direct sunlight and watch the room fill with a spectrum of rainbow colors. It’s truly magical and brings happiness to anyone that receives one!
Even better, Rainbow Symphony has over fifty varieties of suncatchers to choose from, with designs ranging from themed sets to sheets. We even have a Santa suncatcher, perfect for the holiday season!
Here at Rainbow Symphony, we specialize in products that not only educate the mind, but that also stimulate the imagination. This is why choosing rainbow gifts for adults from our eclectic inventory of items is always the right choice for the holidays.
No matter which of our gifts and toys you choose from, you’ll never go wrong by shopping at Rainbow Symphony. On top of our extensive catalog, we also offer unbeatable customer service with free returns and worldwide shipping. To top it all off, our greatest strength is our friendly and knowledgeable staff that you can always count on.
If you’re needing help finding the perfect holiday gift, give our team a call at (800) 821-5122 or contact us online. We’ll be thrilled to help you!
]]>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 partial phases of a solar eclipse through a telescope? The answer? With the right tools, it certainly can be.
Before we go any further, we should address whether viewing an eclipse through a telescope is actually the best way to view a solar eclipse. Believe it or not, there’s a great number of experts who actually prefer to view a solar eclipse with the naked eye (with the right eyewear, of course) compared to magnifying it with a telescope or binoculars, however, this can become a complete personal preference. Watching a solar eclipse with a telescope can sometimes block out your ability to view this big picture. You may miss some of those unique details of a total solar eclipse, like dusk-to-dawn lights turning on because it looks closer to twilight than the middle of the day. However, when using a telescope, you can get up close views of bailey's beads, and the diamond ring, in such detail, it can be truly magical!
You don’t need to have an expensive, high-powered telescope to have a transcendent experience watching a solar eclipse. However, for some eclipse watchers, viewing the sun’s corona during an eclipse through the lens of a telescope helps heighten their experience. So if you’d still like to watch a solar eclipse through a telescope, how can you do this safely?
We must stress the fact that you cannot watch partial phases of a solar eclipse by simply using a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Staring at the sun at any partial phases of an eclipse (except during totality) without a special viewer can cause irrevocable eye damage. This danger is heightened when viewing a solar eclipse with a telescope, as the magnifying power of the telescope can sear the cornea and burn the retina within mere moments.
To safely view an eclipse using a telescope, you’ll need to affix a solar filter to your lens to ensure you receive maximum protection.
The process of adding a solar filter to your telescope is simple, but you’ll need to ensure that you carefully follow each step to verify that your viewing experience is a safe one.
At Rainbow Symphony, we’ve been helping our customers safely view solar eclipses for almost 50 years. We carry a wide selection of solar filters for telescopes and binoculars. You’ll even find a free roll of felt tape included in your order to help you make sure you have everything you need to make your telescope safe for eclipse viewing.
Whether you need products for a concert tour, a school classroom, or for personal use, Rainbow Symphony has the optical products you need for a variety of applications. If you still have questions about watching a solar eclipse with a telescope, allow our customer service team to assist you. Contact us today so we can help!
]]>Today, we reached into our mailbag to address a topic that was recently posed to our resident experts here at Rainbow Symphony: “What is space weather?” The question may not seem relevant. Yet, depending on the type of space weather you’re talking about, it can have a real effect on how we live our day to day lives here on Earth.
When most people think of weather, they typically think in terms of precipitation: rain, snow, hail, and the like. Perhaps that’s why the thought of space weather seems so strange to some people. After all, there are no torrential rainstorms in the great expanses of outer space!
Yet, when we properly define weather here on earth, it gives us a glimpse of how weather is possible in space. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, weather is the “state of the atmosphere at a particular place during a short period of time. It involves such atmospheric phenomena as solar radiation, temperature, humidity, precipitation (type, frequency, and amount), air pressure, wind (speed and direction), and cloud cover.” These many atmospheric phenomena are largely directed by our sun, with cosmic rays and solar cycles guiding our weather patterns.
Understanding weather on Earth helps give us a framework to better answer the question, “What is space weather?” In much the same way as weather on earth, different types of space weather are associated with changes in the sun. The US National Space Weather Program defines space weather as “...conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere.” As the conditions on the sun fluctuate, it changes the environment of space: weather! Although these don’t manifest themselves in the same ways that Earth weather patterns do, they’re just as important for us to understand.
Have you ever checked the weather before you left home for the day? It’s likely you have, because the weather can affect your plans in many ways. How about checking the space weather report? Believe it or not, it exists! NASA tracks all types of space weather, with the reason being that it’s pertinent to the world we live in, whether you realize it or not.
Solar weather patterns can influence satellites in space, cell phone service on Earth, Global Positioning Systems, and a host of other celestial and terrestrial electronic systems. Depending on the severity and type of space weather, entire electrical grids can actually be knocked off-line. Many of our modern technologies are susceptible to space weather conditions, and the more interconnected we become through complex computer systems, the more important it is for companies, governments, and even individuals to be aware of the impact of space weather on our world.
So, what is space weather? When we think of Earth weather, we’re pretty familiar with the terms: wind, precipitation, temperature, and a host of other phenomena. But what about space weather? Here are three different types of weather in outer space that can affect us here on Earth.
These are three of the more common types of space weather that impact our everyday life here on Earth. To learn more, search the Space Weather Prediction Center from the National Weather Service for a treasure trove of information.
You have an insatiable desire to learn more about outer space, which is likely why you want to learn more about different types of space weather. At Rainbow Symphony, we understand exactly how you feel, because we’re drawn to the stars in much the same way. It’s why we offer items like our eclipse shades, telescopes, and solar filters. Each of these products is specifically designed to give you an affordable way to observe the grandeur of outer space.
Curious about our product offerings? Contact us today so we can answer your questions.
]]>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 fragile our life on earth is compared to the giant, burning sun and the cool, barren moon. An annular eclipse like the one coming up in 2023 is something everyone should try to see at least once in their lives, and in this tumultuous 2020, it’s great to have something to look forward to.
The next annular solar eclipse is on October 14, 2023. Here, we’ll outline the basics of the annular eclipse 2023 and how to view it safely.
Eclipses are more interesting when you understand exactly what you’re observing. In an annular eclipse, the moon crosses in front of the sun, but it does not totally obscure the sun as it would in a total eclipse. Instead, there is a bright ring of sunlight surrounding the moon during an annular eclipse, known as the “ring of fire”.
To learn more about annular eclipses, read our article “What is an Annular Eclipse?”
If you’re in the western United States or certain parts of Central and South America, you may be in luck. Here is the path of the solar eclipse 2023, courtesy of Jay Anderson and Xavier Jubier:
The label “GE” stands for the Greatest Eclipse, which is “the instant when the axis of the Moon's shadow cone passes closest to Earth's center.” The label “GD” stands for Greatest Duration, which is the longest period of time the eclipse will occur, in this case approximately five minutes. The Greatest Duration will occur in Panama, southwest of Panama City.
NASA’s website also includes this tidbit of advice for would-be eclipse chasers:
“Good weather is the key to successful eclipse viewing - better to see a shorter eclipse from clear sky than a longer eclipse under clouds.”
So, if you can manage it, head to one of the places within the path to see the solar eclipse in 2023 and check the weather ahead of time to avoid a cloudy night.
As you probably already know, it’s dangerous to look directly into the sun, and it can be equally dangerous to look directly at a solar eclipse. You can view totality without safety gear; but because an annular eclipse doesn’t have totality, you’ll want to have glasses and solar viewing safety devices for the entire event. This may seem counterintuitive—the sun is partially blackened, after all—but there is more to this than meets the eye.
During an annular eclipse in 2023, because the sun isn’t fully covered, solar eclipse safety viewers are a perfect protective addition to the party! These special lenses are thousands of times darker than normal sunglasses to block out UV rays and most visible light.
Rainbow Symphony sells the ideal eclipse shades and glasses you'll need for the event. We go a step further and add extra safety and comfort features such as scratch resistance and ISO certification. For a safe and amazing viewing experience, check out all the types of eclipse shades in our shop.
Good campsites and high-quality eclipse glasses become hot commodities in the days and weeks leading up to the solar eclipse. You’ll have the best viewing experience by planning far ahead.
Don’t miss out on a rare annular solar eclipse by not having the right booking or equipment! Browse our site to find specialty eclipse glasses and viewers. Contact us for any questions you may have by phone at 818-708-8400 or by email at support@rainbowsymphony.com.
Solar radiation during eclipses or solar events must be shielded by eclipse glasses that are trusted by the AAS and NASA. Our eclipse glasses meet the standard for ISO 12312-2:2015. These Rainbow Symphony glasses are "CE" Certified. They meet the transmission requirements for scale 12-16 of EN 169/1992 for safe direct solar viewing. Our entire inventory of eclipse sunglasses meet the 2012 Transmission Requirements of EN 1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 for eclipse filters (Queensland Directive).
Rainbow Symphony’s specialty solar viewers lenses are made of scratch-resistant materials that feature grade-five optical density. Hence, you will get absolute protection from harmful exposure to solar radiation. The “Black Polymer” acts as a filter to block out 100% of ultraviolet light, infrared light, and 99.999% of intense visible light. The premium filters produce an orange-tinted image of the sun that is easier to see, as well as sharper with no visual distortion.
]]>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 affecting our world! Explore this blog from our team to discover what an eclipse does to plants as well as domesticated and wild animals.
Most animals have very consistent reactions to day and night. Their behavioral patterns closely follow natural cycles of light and dark. While domesticated animals generally follow along with the behavior of their owners — using human schedules as a marker for their own routines — an eclipse can cause a disruption in the normal patterns of their activities.
Most cats and dogs don’t react to an eclipse at all until its totality. At this point, many dogs and cats become a little spooked. This reaction could be because their internal clocks and the routines of their humans don’t indicate that it is nighttime, yet the sky and temperature tell their instincts that it is the middle of the night. Dog behavior is much more transparent than cat behavior, but that has more to do with their personalities than the solar eclipse’s effects.
Next time there’s an eclipse that’s visible in your region, check in with your pet to see how they respond. Some animals may act like there’s an earthquake or fireworks going off, while others suddenly decide it’s time to eat dinner and beg for food.
From domestic chickens to horses, the sky darkening definitely sees a reaction from most farm animals. However, many of them are actually responding to the change in temperature rather than the change in light.
If an eclipse occurs on a particularly warm day, once the sun gets blocked, the temperature cools rapidly. Most farm animals begin performing their evening or nighttime rituals, like grooming, sleeping, or eating.
Birds of a Feather
The effects of a solar eclipse on insects and birds are perhaps the most notable. From
cicadas to robins, the moment before an eclipse totality is louder than usual. There’s more buzzing, chirping, and
chattering than at any other hour of the day. Then, once the eclipse hits its totality, everything falls silent.
Some birds also change their song patterns, while others may fly in odd formations.
All the Fish in the Sea
Another strange effect of an eclipse changes fish behavior completely. Anecdotal evidence
from a number of sources claims that fish start biting at lures right before a totality. Scientists think that this
behavior may be because fish feed during the early morning and evening. With the darkening of the skies, they may
become confused — thinking that dusk was falling and that it was time to eat, leading to more bites.
The Nature of the Beast
Many wild animals also respond to solar eclipses because they are crepuscular. Any animal that’s most active during dusk and dawn, including deer, bison, porcupines, rabbits, coyotes, and more, is going to react to a darkening sky. Their instincts are telling them that it’s time to begin their routine for the evening — searching for food, grooming, and preparing for sleep.
Since the sun is a plant’s primary source of food, many have a definitive reaction to the changes in light and temperature. Plants who close their petals at night, like morning glories and hibiscus flowers, react as if it was dusk. Scientists conducting experiments on plants during solar eclipses also saw a significant decrease in photosynthesis and transpiration.
The real effects of an eclipse on plants, though, became apparent when the sun came back. The plants weren’t prepared for such a major interruption to their circadian rhythm! Scientists recorded major disruptions in photosynthesis pathways that ended up reducing a plant’s total food production for the day. Plants who experienced a solar eclipse managed between 10-20% less photosynthesis than they would have if there hadn’t been an interruption in light.
There are also other, more visible effects of a solar eclipse on plants, such as:
As the next big eclipse approaches, you might want to spend some time considering how the plants and animals around you will react. While the disappearing sun offers a fascinating view, it might be just as interesting to study your pets or plants and see what they do! If the solar eclipse has an effect that’s unique and interesting, record it and show it to the world!
If you’re preparing to watch an upcoming eclipse, make sure you have all the tools and accessories you need. Discover eclipse shades, solar filters, and much more at Rainbow Symphony today!
Many adults don’t know as much about the science behind celestial phenomena as they wish. These books can help!
Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets
This solar eclipse book by Tyler Nordgren explores an awe-inspiring phenomenon: total eclipses. As you discover more about this seemingly unnatural phenomenon, you’ll see how it transitioned from a fearsome omen in ancient cultures to a tourist attraction. You’ll read about ancient astrologers from Babylon, China, and Mayan civilizations, as well as the opinions of Greek philosophers, Victorian scientists, and modern theories.
The beautiful illustrations and lyrical writing of Sun Moon Earth will draw you in, guide you, and inspire you to continue exploring. Read this book if you’re interested in the history and philosophy behind different types of eclipses.
Eclipse!: The What, Where, When, Why, and How Guide to Watching Solar and Lunar Eclipses
This book about eclipses is the most complete guide to eclipse viewing. It helps you prepare for solar and lunar eclipses, ensures you know how to view them, and teaches you how to take the best photos of this celestial phenomenon. Find detailed explanations of eclipse dynamics and mechanics, extended conversations of eclipse videography and photography, individual and group activities to try during an eclipse, and comprehensive guides to planning an eclipse viewing with travel advice, weather expectations, and necessary equipment.
Rainbow Symphony believes this book is for everyone, from the dedicated eclipse chaser and backyard astronomer to the dedicated teacher! Read this book for practical information about all types of eclipses.
Kids are always asking questions about the sun, the stars, the moon, and nature. These books can help parents answer their wildest questions.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space
Catherine D. Hughes and David A. Aguilar wrote a book that introduces children to some of the most fascinating aspects of space. As they discuss and survey the newest frontier, these authors touch on some of the most interesting celestial phenomena that are visible from Earth, including solar eclipses!
If you’re looking for a book about eclipses that’s ideal for children, this is the one. It speaks directly to children with basic concepts and facts anyone can understand, and the encyclopedic format helps parents look up answers with their kids to bond while learning. Choose this book or get the expanded version called Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of Our Solar System and Beyond.
The Moon Book
A picture book that does so much more than review eclipses; it talks about all the wonder and magic of the moon. An ideal introduction to space, learn more about one of the most important celestial bodies in our sky — the moon! The colorful moon pictures illustrate the origins and phases of this natural satellite and help kids visualize cultural legends about the moon.
There are so many different concepts to explore in The Moon Book, including science, lore, and gorgeous imagery! The best thing about this solar eclipse book is that it also includes instructions for making your own eclipse viewer!
Looking Up! The Science of Stargazing
Another book that’s drawing your kid’s attention to the sky, Looking Up! The Science of Stargazing by Joe Rao and Mark Borgions makes sure they’ll never be looking at the ground! A book about eclipses that was written by meteorologists, it’s the perfect guide for kids that answers their most common questions. Short chapters are separated by comic-book-style drawings with special sections talking about upcoming eclipses. Practicality and magic come together in one special book for kids aged 6-8.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or your kids, these solar eclipse books are a great way to start exploring celestial phenomena. What do you do after reading these books? It’s time to get out there and see some of those celestial phenomena for yourself! Make sure you have all the tools and accessories to enjoy eclipses, rainbows, solar flares, and much more when you shop Rainbow Symphony.
Whether you end up an eclipse chaser or just a little obsessed with rainbows, we have everything you need to take joy in the world around you.
]]>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!
Your brain is a complex creation with many processes that can be triggered by your surroundings. One of the biggest things that affect your brain’s chemicals is light and darkness. When you’re exposed to sunlight, the brain begins to release hormones, one of which is serotonin. Serotonin is the hormone most associated with mood-lifting effects, helping you feel calm and focused.
Without enough time in the sun, serotonin levels can drop, and you won’t be feeling as happy, relaxed, and focused as usual. The benefits of sunshine are why many people get sun lamps during the darker winter months. They want to avoid the seasonal depression (also known as seasonal affective disorder) that comes with the lack of sun during winter.
Many studies have looked into how the sun affects your body. In addition to spurring your brain to create serotonin, it also encourages your skin to create more vitamin D. According to one study, after spending just 30 minutes in the sun, your vitamin D levels spike. While the amount of vitamin D your body produces varies by skin tone, every single person who spent time outside saw some benefit of sunshine!
The particle of sunlight that causes the creation of international units (IUs) of vitamin D is called ultraviolet-B radiation. While too much exposure can cause problems, if you use sunscreen and moderate your exposure, you can enjoy the health benefits of sunlight without risky your safety!
Because vitamin D encourages your body to absorb and retain calcium, you want to get as much of it as you can. Low vitamin D has been linked to bone-wasting diseases, like osteoporosis and osteomalacia in adults, as well as rickets in children.
Sunshine is an essential part of regulating your circadian rhythm — another health benefit of sunlight. While spending time in the sun helps your body produce brain chemicals that keep you alert and happy, as soon as the sun goes down, your body starts creating a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is essential to helping you sleep, and your brain produces it about two hours after the sun sets. The sun is really in charge of telling your body when to stay awake and when to go to sleep. Without enough time in the sun, your body might be telling you that it’s bedtime all the time.
Enjoy the benefits of sunshine even at night when you regulate hormone production in the brain through appropriate exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin D is vital to bone health, but it’s also critical for a healthy immune system. Because few foods naturally have vitamin D, we need to get it from another place — like the sun. Vitamin D regulates the immune system to combat seasonal diseases like the flu, but it also helps your body slow or stop the development of autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and pemphigus. Did you ever think that one of the benefits of sunshine was a reduced risk of illness, infection, and cancer?
Everyone knows that protection from UV rays is important, but that doesn’t mean that all the effects of the sun are bad! The sun is responsible for the continuation of life on Earth!
After reading about all these benefits of sunshine, it’s evident that the sun has a significant impact on your life — just remember to wear sunscreen to protect your skin and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
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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 today!
1. The Sun Is A Star
Many adults don’t even know that the sun is a star! Make sure your child knows exactly what a star is and how the sun qualifies as one of these celestial bodies. While most of the stars your kids may be used to seeing light up the sky at night, the sun is much closer to us and provides us light during the day. One thing that’s important to learn about the sun is that it’s the star at the center of our solar system.
There are many different types of stars, including red giants, white dwarfs, red dwarfs, and supergiants. Our sun is a yellow dwarf star — pretty small in comparison to some of the others out there! As the sun gets older, around seven billion years from now, it will change into a red giant star, and several billion years later, collapse into a white dwarf. What a life cycle!
2. The Sun Supports All Life On Earth
The light and heat that our sun generates are what allows life on Earth to exist. We’re at the optimal distance to receive much of the benefits of the sun’s rays without too many of the negative side effects. Since animals and humans need oxygen to survive, we count on plants’ absorption of sunlight to create the perfect atmosphere for life! Once your kids learn this about the sun, they may be much more appreciative of the trees, grasses, and flowers around them!
Our distance from the sun really matters. While it might take eight minutes for the sun’s light to reach us, if we were any closer, like Mercury or Venus, our planet could reach up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s much too hot for any of us to survive. If we were a little further from the sun, like Mars or Jupiter, the temperature could drop to -80 degrees Fahrenheit. On Saturn, it gets as low as -285 degrees Fahrenheit!
3. The Sun & Gravity
Another thing to learn about the sun is how its mass and gravity affect our solar system. Everything orbits the sun because of its huge size. The magnetic field is what keeps each planet’s orbit where it is. The sun’s role in our lives is vitally important and anything that happens on its surface, like solar storms, could affect everyone on Earth.
4. The Sun Makes Rainbows
Everyone loves rainbows, and the sun is the key to creating them. When your kids learn about the sun’s role in creating these beautiful colors, they might get even more excited about this star. Use our suncatchers and decals to experiment with creating rainbows. You might even get to see a double rainbow if you angle your prismatic tools just right!
5. Solar Eclipses
As your kids start to understand how the planets, moons, and sun interact, you might want to introduce them to the idea of solar eclipses. When the moon passes in front of the sun, it covers it completely, casting a huge shadow on Earth. There are partial and total eclipses, as well as lunar eclipses and annular eclipses. Help them learn about the sun’s effects during each type of eclipse and take them with you when you go out for a viewing!
Sun Learning at Rainbow Symphony
Sun learning is fun, but you might encounter some questions that you didn’t expect. As your kids learn about the sun, be prepared to answer some wild questions! Let your little ones know that you don’t have all the answers, but that you can do some searches together to find them.
Ready to start exploring sun facts with your family? Use this guide as a resource to get started and find more interesting facts on our blog today!
]]>At Rainbow Symphony, we’re very passionate about eclipses and celestial phenomena. If you’re on our site, that means that you are too! If you’re wondering how you can share your excitement for eclipses with your loved ones and make a uniquely romantic gesture, we think that an eclipse trip can be one of the most exciting date ideas out there!
Do you think this type of trip is the perfect date for you? We can help you with eclipse planning, so you don’t miss a single minute! Check out our essential tips for planning your trip here!
1. When Is the Event?
Finding a celestial event that fits in with your schedule can be difficult, but we highly recommend staying up to date on eclipses and meteor showers to ensure you can deliver an exciting date idea. Thanks to scientists, we often know the dates of eclipses and other events years in advance, allowing us to guarantee that our eclipse planning is perfect. Here are a few of the upcoming eclipse dates and locations to help you start your journey:
With eclipse dates so far in advance, you definitely have enough time to book flights, rent a car, and find a hotel if you need to.
2. Where Is the Event?
While there are many celestial events coming up over the next few years, you can’t assume that they’ll be visible all over the world. If you’re not in a location where an eclipse or meteor shower is visible, you can always travel to a different location — sometimes across the world to make your exciting date idea happen. Not sure whether you can make it to Greenland, France, or Spain? You might have to wait until the next event for your special eclipse trip.
While it may seem like a big deal to hop on a plane and fly across the ocean, we eclipse chasers always think it’s worthwhile just to catch a glimpse of a fantastic celestial phenomena!
3. Transportation
If you are planning on making this exciting date idea a destination event, we recommend finding transportation far in advance. In some places, like France or Canada, all you need to do is book a car. But, some eclipses are only visible from very remote locations, so you may need to consider a local bus or internal flight to make it to your destination. You might even consider hiring a local guide for eclipse events in Patagonia or Greenland to ensure you actually arrive in time to see the event!
4. Finding the Perfect Spot
When you live in the location where an eclipse is going to occur, it can take some work to find the right viewing spot. Part of eclipse planning is the specifics of where you’re going to stand or sit. Sometimes, your own rooftop offers the best views, but you might need to drive to a different part of the city to find a better place to spread out a blanket and get a good look at the sky. If you’re considering a lunar eclipse for your exciting date idea, you want to find somewhere that doesn’t have overwhelming light pollution that might ruin your viewing. In areas where eclipse viewing is popular, you should arrive at your spot early, so you don’t miss out!
5. Accessories
There are many celestial phenomena for which you don’t need special equipment other than maybe a blanket and some snacks. Still, for eclipses, especially solar eclipses, you do need some specialized gear. Prepare in advance with eclipse shades and viewers that are comfortable to wear for the length of the event. You also want to make sure that these items are made for eclipse viewing and allow you to look at the sun safely.
Start Planning!
Ready to get going? So are we! Start planning your exciting date idea as soon as possible to guarantee an amazing experience for you and your loved ones.
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