The Proprietor Review

Lunar halo Merritt BC
Jan 26/15
Photo KDG

Monday evening saw a lunar halo ( ring around the moon), the effect was noticed just before 9 PM in a clear sky. The moon was not full however a very pronounced double circle including a outer blue was a matter of beauty and wonder.

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. Source the staff at Farmers Almanac. http://farmersalmanac.com/astronomy/2009/08/17/ring-around-the-moon/

Two stars were noticeably colored when seen through the lens of a 50 power binocular.

On this day: January 28th 1754

The word Serenpipity is coined in a letter to Horace Man from Horace Walpole.