HI. I Have not been here before, but a lunar activity last night has me completely baffled. My son saw it first and came and got me. I was amazed at the spectical, had never seen anything quite like it, that is until a few nights previous. At that time, there was a circle around the moon, but it was so close you could almost say it was within hugging distance.

But last night it was quite different. If I were to take a grapefruit and put a ring of some kind around it to show distance from the moon, the circle would be about 18" from the moon/grapefruit.

My question is, what exactly is this? Can you explain it to me please. TY so much, Lainey

This effect is called a "lunar halo". Tell me, was it cloudy at the time? If so, then this halo could have been caused by sunlight reflecting off the moon and being refracted by cirro-stratus clouds in the upper atmosphere. This is what it sounds like due to your explanation of the size of the ring compared to the moon.

What happens is that the light is refracted by the cirro-stratus clouds, which are basically large sheets of ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. These ice crystals bend the light at a 22 degree angle, which makes the radius of the halo around 4-6 times larger than the radius of the moon, if I recall correctly. Lemme go find a picture...

...k, found a decent one:




look like it?

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Thank you very much for the picture and the explanation, regarding my lunar halo. You are correct I beleive. Howere the circle we saw was actually larger than the one in the picture. And as far as cloudy conditions, I don't think there were quite as many clouds either, as what was shown in your picture. I do agree that they are the some tho. Thanks again, Lainey

For more on lunar haloes browse http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/circmoon.htm

Dave Mitsky

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OMG! I SAW THE SAME EXACT THING! I was outside at the nighttime a bit ago, and it was totally clear out, and it wasn't hot nor cold, yet with a little breeze, and the entire backyard was lit up by the moon and when I looked at the moon I was baffled by this circle around it! I had no idea what it was. Now I know lol. The site is so amazing. This halo was thick too.

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http://www.retardedhumor.com/pictures/0019.jpg

Gorgeous!!! B)