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Did you see the 'moon halo' last night?

People across North Carolina may have noticed the peculiar glowing ring around the moon. But what is it?

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'Moon halo'
By
Delaney Eyermann
, WRAL multiplatform producer

People across North Carolina may have noticed the peculiar glowing ring around the moon. But what is it?

Medina, a WRAL News viewer, sent us a photo of this strange occurrence – and we discovered the fascinating answer.

Referred to as a "moon halo," "moon ring" or "22° halo," the glowing ring around the moon is actually an optical phenomena.

According to space.com, "the moon's halo or lunar halo is an optical illusion that causes a large bright ring to surround the moon. This striking and often beautiful halo around the moon is caused by the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere."

"In effect, these suspended or falling flecks of ice mean the atmosphere is transformed into a giant lens causing arcs and halos to appear around the moon..."

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Experts from earthsky.org said the halos are a sign of high, thin cirrus clouds – containing millions of tiny ice crystals.
"The crystals must be oriented and positioned just so with respect to your eye, for the halo to appear," experts said on earthsky.org.
Do you have photos or video of the moon halo? Send them to us at wral.com/report-it.
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