I live in Central Oklahoma. And one night in Feb. I was outside with my dog and I looked straight up in the nitght sky and it was crazy the moon was like in the center of the sky but the clouds had formed a prefect circle around about 20 feet away what was that.
2007-03-06 03:20:55 · 6 answers · asked by mrs.anderson 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A circle around the moon is also called a lunar halo. Halos are produced by ice crystals in high altitude clouds, such as cirrus clouds, which refract light in all directions. Cirrus clouds often are observed in advance of low pressure systems that may bring rain or snow. Therefore a circle around the sun or moon may give some indication of the next day's weather.
2007-03-06 03:32:01 · answer #1 · answered by CoffeeAdict 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You were looking at refracted light from the moon in all it's glory. If you are in the middle of Oklahoma it sounds like you may have some exciting weather changes. Those clouds are called cirrus clouds and they make beautiful halos over the plains at this time of the year. Isn't it incredibly beautiful? Keep looking up. @8-)
2007-03-06 12:21:41 · answer #2 · answered by Dovey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cloudy circle around the full moon was seen due to the refraction of the moon light in the mist of the air. This is a common picture when the air is more humid.
2007-03-06 11:34:12 · answer #3 · answered by The Falcon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Sacramento, California, and I also have seen that. I believe that that is one of the most amazing things I have seen. That is called the Lunar Halo. Like a rainbow, when the sunlight is reflected in the moisture after it rains, the moons light is relfected from the water in the atmosphere. Think of it as a "rainbow in the night".
2007-03-06 13:36:27 · answer #4 · answered by dennys 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like a spectrum, the moon light refracting through the moisture in the air creates a "halo" effect that some times can be very beautiful.
2007-03-06 11:30:08 · answer #5 · answered by Boof 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all of these people are right...this phenomena is also called a moonbow. cool thing is, is that ive seen this same thing but with the sun. a full cirle rainbow. absoloutely beutiful. it all depends on the angle from which it is viewed. if you go out every full moon and look up the only time you will see this effect again is if there are low lying clouds present. hope you get to see it another night!!!
2007-03-06 14:32:46 · answer #6 · answered by Bones 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋