tonight 12/23/07
if u look out at the moon in the rings of light theres a tiny sparkling speck ?what is that
2007-12-23 12:16:59 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
On the surface of the moon itself, or in the sky around the moon?
The "rings of light" sound like what is called a moon halo which are caused by light passing through ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. If the tiny sparkling speck is between the halo and the moon it is likely just a star.
2007-12-23 12:21:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
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.
2007-12-23 20:22:59 · answer #2 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mars is the bright star very near the Moon tonight. Only tonight though. By tomorrow the Moon will have moved to another part of the sky in its orbit. After only one day it will have moved quite far from Mars. Of course, it isn't really close to Mars in space, it is just seen in the same direction. The moon is WAY closer to Earth that Mars is.
2007-12-23 20:27:22 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon is sliding past Mars tonight. A fairly close pass. I wouldn't be surprised if the International Occultation Timing Association is out watching a graze someplace.
2007-12-23 20:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by elohimself 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Marvelous, mysterious and Famous Mars!
2007-12-23 20:22:48 · answer #5 · answered by Asker 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a lunar bigfoot
2007-12-23 20:25:04 · answer #6 · answered by ou812655 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋