images

Lunar Halo

by

Patrick Lécureuil/Novapix

Reference

t-met03-80011

Date

2010-01-06

Lunar halos are caused by moonlight being refracted by cirro-stratus clouds. These thin clouds are located very high in the atmosphere, and are composed of ice crystals. They bend light at a 22 degree angle, which creates a halo that is 44 degrees in diameter.