'Halo' spotted around the Moon across England

Posted by Fernande Dalal on Saturday, July 6, 2024

By Sophie MaddenBBC News

Sienna Anderson Newtown Creek, Isle of WightSienna AndersonThe halo around the Moon was seen over the Isle of Wight, among other places, on Saturday evening

A "lunar halo" has been spotted in the night skies.

The ring around the Moon was seen over the skies on Saturday evening in Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire and the Isle of Wight.

The phenomenon is caused by the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.

According to the Met Office, the halo can mean rainfall might be approaching.

Pacamac Ashbourne, DerbyshirePacamacThe halo is seen in Ashbourne in DerbyshireSue Ketteridge PooleSue KetteridgeThe halo as seen over Poole's Old Town in DorsetLynne Smith Cheadle, StaffordshireLynne SmithThe phenomenon is caused by light refracting through ice crystals, as spotted in Cheadle, StaffordshireJono/Weather Watchers Lindley, KirkleesJono/Weather WatchersThe halo, a sign that rain might be coming, was also seen in Kirklees, West Yorkshire

It added: "The halo is caused by ice crystals formed in high clouds.

"These ice crystals then refract the light from the Moon or Sun.

"As the ice crystals travel lower, precipitation becomes more likely. In summer months particularly, the Halo can be a sign of approaching storms."

traindriver_Surrey Surreytraindriver_SurreyThe halo was seen over the skies in Surrey on Saturday nightRoger Steadman ShirleyRoger SteadmanAnd over Shirley in the West MidlandsAnna Butcher Sindlesham, Wokingham, BerkshireAnna ButcherThe lunar halo was also seen over Wokingham in BerkshireJonny Gios Moon halo, Kendal, CumbriaJonny GiosAnd in Kendal, Cumbria

Geographer Simon Collins said he was "delighted" to catch a glimpse of the moment.

"I'm a keen weather observer [and] run a local weather station so am always delighted to see lovely weather phenomena as so many others did last night as well," the 57-year-old, who took a photo in Reigate, Surrey on Saturday night, said.

Some described witnessing the occurrence as "amazing", with others described it as "very weird" and "like a night time rainbow".

James Donald Sevenoaks, SurreyJames DonaldThe halo as seen over SevenoaksSutton ColdfieldThe halo was also captured over Sutton ColdfieldEndon, StaffordshireIt was also seen over Endon in StaffordshirePresentational grey line

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