Sky viewers last night saw a halo or ring around the moon. What causes the ring? Upper level clouds are made up of ice crystals. These crystals bend light reflected from the moon. (We see the moon as reflected sunlight.) When the ice crystals are bent, it appears as a halo or ring around the moon. Because high pressure allowed for a dry and stable air mass, it created ideal conditions for the viewing. Also, last night's full moon created the picturesque scene. Viewers also wanted to know about the bright star next to the moon. That was actually the planet Mars.

For more information on What's in the Sky?... go to our Weather Home page, or click here.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/

Leave a comment

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.