2007-01-02 14:05:44 · 6 answers · asked by Tommy W 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Halos are caused by the light of the sun or moon passing through a very thin layer of cirruform (ice-crystal) clouds in the upper atmosphere. The ice crystals refract the light of the moon, similar to the way water droplets in the lower atmosphere can refract sunlight to produce a rainbow. Just like a rainbow, strong halos can have bands of color in them, due to slightly different refractive properties of the ice crystals for different colors. Essentially, halos ARE rainbows caused by primary refraction in ice crystals.
Some interesting facts about halos: Halos always occur exactly 22 degrees away from the sun or moon. Occasionally, intense halos can be double halos, just as intense rainbows can be doubled. Intense halos can also produce "moondogs" or "sundogs," very bright regions on the halo evenly spaced at 90 degree intervals around the halo.
2007-01-02 14:21:46 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ice crystals in the atmosphere shinning in the moon light.
2007-01-02 22:14:14 · answer #2 · answered by thresher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is called a moon dog, and is a consequence of ice crystals high in the atmosphere diffracting and diffusing moonlight (which itself is reflected sunlight).
2007-01-02 23:11:48 · answer #3 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a halo. From what I've heard, it is caused by the refraction of the moonlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.
2007-01-02 22:07:53 · answer #4 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the light is light from the sun bouncing off the moon thus giving it a glow.So it looks like a moons glowing
2007-01-02 22:13:29 · answer #5 · answered by jack 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Thin clouds, ice crystals.
2007-01-02 22:08:17 · answer #6 · answered by anonymous 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋