I went out on a camping adventure (aka Church Retreat) this past weekend waaaaaay out in the country, and I saw something I had NEVER, EVER seen in 30 some odd years. A ring around the moon!! Several of us marveled at it, and others said "Oh yeah, that is formed by ice reflecting the light from up in the upper stratosphere." Wow, somehow missed that one! I tried and tried to take a picture, but it wouldn't show up on my camera phone... However, someone somewhere captured one just like it... See below!
Personal Background...and a little history...
You just got it... My history with it has been all of two days! Pretty cool though! Apparently, some show a bit of a rainbow in the ring of light. Pretty beautiful.
The Science Behind It...
I can't explain it, but I'll let the Farmer's Almanac do so below!! And for the full information from their site, click here!
"While stargazing, have you ever noticed a large circular band of light surrounding the moon? If so, you have seen a lunar halo.
A lunar halo is caused by the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light through ice particles suspended within thin, wispy, high altitude cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. As light passes through these hexagon-shaped ice crystals, it is bent at a 22 degree angle, creating a halo 22 degrees in radius (or 44 degrees in diameter). A double halo, sometimes with spokes, may be seen on rare occasions when light reflects off water or ice.
The prism effect of light passing through these six-sided ice crystals separates the light into its various colors, resulting in a halo tinged with very pale rainbow colors with red on the inside and blue on the outside. The phenomenon of a lunar halo is similar to a rainbow produced by sunlight and rain falling between your eye and the sun.
Weather lore says a lunar halo is the precursor of impending unsettled weather, especially during the winter months. This is often proved true, as cirrus and cirrostratus clouds generally precede rain and storm systems.
Lunar halos are, in fact, actually fairly common. So watch the night sky — and keep the umbrella handy."By golly, they were right too... We got lots of rain the next day, which made for a very muddy couple of hikes with my fellow church friends! Worth it!!
A goal... (or two)
Look up more at night... How could I have missed this!?!
Lunar-inspired fashion...
Apparently, this is a "moon dress" on the runway... Sleek!
And, at your local Macy's...
How sweet is this? I want to get these for my nieces!! (On sale for $33)
Looking up...
Check out verse three in this chapter of Psalms by clicking here. Let's not forget the Creator of the heavens... And then let the peace of knowing who is in control cover us this week...
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