I went outside for a cig around midnight and I was greeted by a beautiful halo around the moon extending far out across the sky, as far as Mars's position. Between moon and outer ring of halo it was almost clear sky, where sky outside of ring was much foggier.

I mocked up a pic in Photoshop to show how it looked, using a screen cap from Stellarium as the base pic.
I tried taking pic, but, my camera is no good with astrophotography, so, thus the illustration instead:



Edit: Please note, there's nothing spooky or strange about this. I'm not claiming there's anything spooky or strange about this.
It was just beautiful. I think the effect is caused by ice crystal formation in the cloud cover where the light bounces off of and refracts around the ice crystals to make this pretty site.

Too bad me camera couldn't get a good shot of this. Very beautiful though.

Edit #2: Funny thing; I just now realized it's a FULL moon, or close to it.

What planet is that at 7oclock from the moon??

I saw it earlier when I was outside for a smoke... didnt see a halo from PA though... maybe ill head back out and see if I can see one...

How easy to use is that Stellarium program? I was thinking about trying it to see what planet that is under the moon

Originally posted by nineix
I went outside for a cig around midnight and I was greeted by a beautiful halo around the moon extending far out across the sky, as far as Mars's position. Between moon and outer ring of halo it was almost clear sky, where sky outside of ring was much foggier.

I mocked up a pic in Photoshop to show how it looked, using a screen cap from Stellarium as the base pic.
I tried taking pic, but, my camera is no good with astrophotography, so, thus the illustration instead:

Edit: Please note, there's nothing spooky or strange about this. I'm not claiming there's anything spooky or strange about this.
It was just beautiful. I think the effect is caused by ice crystal formation in the cloud cover where the light bounces off of and refracts around the ice crystals to make this pretty site.

I saw the same from Texas (looked after I read post and as of now still there) I am in the country away from light pollution . It is pretty tried to take a pic with my iPhone but it sucked so good post and I agree on the ice crystal theory wheather has been funky here hot/cold and it's cold now not sure on the atmospheric temps.

Too bad me camera couldn't get a good shot of this. Very beautiful though.

edit on 8-2-2012 by nineix because: (no reason given)

Originally posted by morder1
What planet is that at 7oclock from the moon??

I saw it earlier when I was outside for a smoke... didnt see a halo from PA though... maybe ill head back out and see if I can see one...

How easy to use is that Stellarium program? I was thinking about trying it to see what planet that is under the moon

I think its regulus

Edit -the red one is mars.. but the one closer is regulus

Originally posted by nineix
I went outside for a cig around midnight and I was greeted by a beautiful halo around the moon extending far out across the sky, as far as Mars's position. Between moon and outer ring of halo it was almost clear sky, where sky outside of ring was much foggier.

I mocked up a pic in Photoshop to show how it looked, using a screen cap from Stellarium as the base pic.
I tried taking pic, but, my camera is no good with astrophotography, so, thus the illustration instead:

Edit: Please note, there's nothing spooky or strange about this. I'm not claiming there's anything spooky or strange about this.
It was just beautiful. I think the effect is caused by ice crystal formation in the cloud cover where the light bounces off of and refracts around the ice crystals to make this pretty site.

I saw the same from Texas (looked after I read post and as of now still there) I am in the country away from light pollution . It is pretty tried to take a pic with my iPhone but it sucked so good post and I agree on the ice crystal theory wheather has been funky here hot/cold and it's cold now not sure on the atmospheric temps.

Too bad me camera couldn't get a good shot of this. Very beautiful though.

edit on 8-2-2012 by nineix because: (no reason given)

The moon also had a halo around it tonight where I live (pacific northwest) with an orange tint.. Absolutely breath taking!! I wonder how many places it was seen like this.. Very cool (:

Old wives tale has it that when the halo is around the moon it means rain in your area within 3 days.
Seems like there was something else to the story as well but I can't remember it.
Something about the halo when the moon is half full and is positioned so it resembles a bowl tipped on it's side "so the water can run out".
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