This morning’s 5 a.m. walk featured a cool phenomenon: a ring around the moon. A china white half moon was high in the sky, and the ghostly, translucent, but clearly visible ring was a considerable distance out from the moon itself. The effect was liked a giant, lidded eye in the sky.
An example of a moon ring
According to this website, moon rings are caused by refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. They are associated with high altitude, cirrus clouds, which may explain why the stars looked somewhat indistinct this morning.
Folklore holds that a moon ring means that storms will be coming, and that the number of stars within the moon ring equal the number of days until the storm will arrive. I didn’t count the stars within the ring, however, so I won’t be able to put that folklore to the test.
omg !!! i saw this early this morning around 1 am in north carolina and it was so big and unique. i never saw something like this before so i had no clue what is was and didn’t know how to explain to people what i say. some of my neighbors came outside to view it as well and we where all just in aww of how this huge ring around the moon looked
its happing in buffalo ny right now at 12 15 am 11-13-2011 never seen anything like this before very cool!!
Same in Elizabethtown, PA right now.
today is the first time i ever witnessed such thing i mean its really amazing. i asked my parents if they knew anything about it and they told me that, rings around the moon means that sickness is coming and they said it had happened before a while back. i thought it had something to do with the moons gravity since the moon itself is water and clouds and partly water. just thought the moon was to close but was doubting my self aswell.
I saw it last night in Fort Mill, SC for the first time in my life at 1:13 am and tried to take a picture but it didnt work. I HAD to come and look it up to see what that meant. It was so amazing! I looked at another website that says about the same thing, although it gets a little more scientific. But this is the most amazing thing i’ve seen since the birth of a child. (Life isn’t that interesting! *smirk*)
We have a ring around the moon tonight, Jan. 7, 2012. Only one star inside the ring visible in Indiana. We’ll see if we have storms soon or not.
I’m seeing this same phenomenon for the first time now in Austin, TX. The full moon is beautiful and the ring is a bonus. (1-7-12; around 9:15pm)
went out side at 11:30 pm on Jan, 7 2012 in IN. butlerville. was unbalivable never seen any thing like it befor, was awsome.
ohio tonite never seen it b4
does this mean the world will end?
I saw this last night around 11pm in Schererville, IN. Awesome!
I see it right now!
in saline michigan
Detroit, Michigan checkin’ in as well with the same.
DramaMama
I’m in Ocala, FL. I took my pup out at midnight and saw the same thing, but for me it was for the first time. I woke up a neighbor and she was also in awe. It was so beautiful yet puzzling to see. I called channel 9 and they said they had no idea what was causing it but would talk to their weather guy about it. Maybe I should send this page to them!
It happening in Canon City, Co right now, at 7:28 PM on 2-01-12 I have never seen this before.
Just saw this for the first time in Raynham MA around 8:15pm on 2/2/12. Most amazing phenomenon! My 8 y/o was in complete awe and immediately looked it up online. Funny that someone in CO saw it yesterday and I hear today they are having snowstorms that are closing/delaying airports! Very cool!
I sall a halo aruond the moon yestery day
theres one right now in bellflower CA, pretty amazing/creepy sight
Yep- got to watch for 2 hours in Valley Center, CA. It lasted for about 2 hours and then gone…. It was amazing. I’ve viewed rings around the moon before, but not at this level…