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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: Simulated on 02/04/2009 03:57:23

Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: Simulated on 02/04/2009 03:57:23
I was about 9:30 EST when I looked at the moon and there was this circle around it, not close futher away. I tired taking a pictuer but it didn't get it. I don't know how to explain it, but I've never seen it before. Anyone else?
Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: JimBob on 02/04/2009 04:22:52
Yep - it the moon's light being dispersed by water vapor. There folk aphorism about "if there is a ring around the moon there will soon be rain" but I cannot remember it, only the meat of the saying. I don't believe it is true but may have a small connection.
Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: paul.fr on 02/04/2009 09:50:14
What you are seeing is caused by cirrus clouds, the folklore "if there is a ring around the moon there will soon be rain" relates to the cirrus being the leading part of an approaching warm front.

Warm front
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/wfrnt/def.rxml

22° Halo around the moon
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/circmoon.htm
Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/04/2009 15:43:03
Quote from: JimBob on 02/04/2009 04:22:52
Yep - it the moon's light being dispersed by water vapor. There folk aphorism about "if there is a ring around the moon there will soon be rain" but I cannot remember it, only the meat of the saying. I don't believe it is true but may have a small connection.
My parents believed that but more precisely that in one more day there would be rain! So if you saw the ring it meant that in a day or day and half it would rain!

A lot of farmers went by that!
Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/04/2009 15:43:58
Quote from: Paul. on 02/04/2009 09:50:14
What you are seeing is caused by cirrus clouds, the folklore "if there is a ring around the moon there will soon be rain" relates to the cirrus being the leading part of an approaching warm front.

Warm front
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/wfrnt/def.rxml

22° Halo around the moon
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/circmoon.htm

Thanks Paul! Nice links.
Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: Simulated on 03/04/2009 04:05:02
Quote from: JimBob on 02/04/2009 04:22:52
Yep - it the moon's light being dispersed by water vapor. There folk aphorism about "if there is a ring around the moon there will soon be rain" but I cannot remember it, only the meat of the saying. I don't believe it is true but may have a small connection.

hah wow. it rained 24 hours later. and lots of lightining which i havne't seen forever!
Title: Any one look at the moon tonight?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/04/2009 09:56:18
Here too today and we had a ring night before last.