I went outside late last night and the moon had a large ring around it, i
2007-03-01 03:05:33 · 10 answers · asked by belon187 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You probably saw this:
2007-03-01 03:11:07 · answer #1 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Ring Around The Moon
The ring around the Moon is caused by the refraction of Moonlight (which of course is reflected sunlight) from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. The shape of the ice crystals results in a focusing of the light into a ring. Since the ice crystals typically have the same shape, namely a hexagonal shape, the Moon ring is almost always the same size.
Less typical are the halos that may be produced by different angles in the crystals. They can create halos with an angle of 46 degrees.
I hope this clears it up for you :-)
2007-03-01 11:11:23 · answer #2 · answered by Captain Jack ® 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A ring a round the sun or the moon is the commonest of the halo phenomena. It is the 22° halo formed by refraction of sunlight or moonlight through ice crystals with faces at 60° to each other, the commonest shape for ice crystals. The ice crystals are in cirrostratus cloud which is a thin veil of cloud which can be difficult to see. A halo is a positive identification of cirrostratus.
In high latitudes, cirrostratus is often the forerunner of a warm front which mean rain is probably on the way. In lower latitudes it just indicates the presence of moisture in the upper troposphere and is not a sign of rain on the way.
2007-03-01 14:24:18 · answer #3 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atmospheric oddity:
"The ring around the Moon is caused by the refraction of Moonlight (which of course is reflected sunlight) from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. The shape of the ice crystals results in a focusing of the light into a ring. Since the ice crystals typically have the same shape, namely a hexagonal shape, the Moon ring is almost always the same size.
Less typical are the halos that may be produced by different angles in the crystals. They can create halos with an angle of 46 degrees. "
2007-03-01 11:09:59 · answer #4 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ice crystals or water droplets reflecting some of the light.
2007-03-01 11:11:06 · answer #5 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aliens!
2007-03-01 11:32:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is called a halo... some say it is a sure sign of snow
2007-03-01 11:09:37 · answer #7 · answered by kerfitz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some type of gas probably.
2007-03-01 11:09:53 · answer #8 · answered by ladyeilwynn 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i believe what you saw would be an aura. it would look like a glow that a ghost would have.
2007-03-01 11:14:25 · answer #9 · answered by Hell on wheels 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Clean your glasses and look again.
2007-03-01 11:09:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋