Lunar Halo

A lunar halo may be quite pretty, but along with pretty sunsets, it indicates lousy sky conditions for astronomy.

In this case a high layer of thin cirrus, consisting of small ice crystals, cover the sky. The crystal shape is just right to bend the light at a specific angle, creating a halo 22° from the light source. A faint hint of color can be seen at the inner edge of the halo.

Lunar Halo
Lunar 22° halo over Mauna Kea

Author: Andrew

An electrical engineer, amateur astronomer, and diver, living and working on the island of Hawaiʻi.

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