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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Science & MathematicsAstronomy & Space · 1 decade ago

Why is there a ring around the moon tonight?

I went outside and I saw a ring around the moon, and it looked just like this

http://www.venustransit.pghfree.net/pics/faq/Ring_...

What does it mean? And why is it there?

8 Answers

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  • Will
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    There are ice crystals in the upper atmosphere where you are at, and it is refracting the light from the moon.

    Think of it as a good thing, because you are seeing what are basically Moon rainbows. But because the light is reflected off of the Moon, and the refraction is many miles high, as opposed to basically ground level, you only see white in the ring.

  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    This Site Might Help You.

    RE:

    Why is there a ring around the moon tonight?

    I went outside and I saw a ring around the moon, and it looked just like this

    http://www.venustransit.pghfree.net/pics/faq/Ring_...

    What does it mean? And why is it there?

    Source(s): ring moon tonight: https://tr.im/Ku4ek
  • GeoffG
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    This is a weather phenomenon, and has absolutely nothing to do with astronomy. It is called a lunar halo, is caused by ice crystals in the Earth's atmosphere, and usually indicates a change in the weather (for the worse).

  • 1 decade ago

    we had one here tonight..

    theres a rhyme: "ring around the moon, rain or snow is coming soon" it usually

    predicts bad weather but its caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere.

    and if u count how many stars there are inside the thats how many

    days till bad weather arrives.

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  • c3pnis
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    The above answers are correct, it's called a moon halo, and we had a huge one here last night.

  • Anonymous
    6 years ago
  • Will
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    That has to do with the way the light reflects of the atmosphere.

  • 1 decade ago

    Ice crystals in the upper atmosphere are probably causing this effect.

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