PHOTO OF THE WEEK: MOON HALO

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December 29, 2012 (Mount Helix) -- "Ring around the moon, rain is coming soon," according to an old saying. There is truth to the statement, since a halo around the moon is caused by high cirrus clouds and a reflection off millions of ice crystals high up in the atmosphere that creates this irridescent rainbow-like effect.  Moon halos were seen by many people across the eastern U.S. before Hurricane Sandy, for example.

ECM editor Miriam Raftery took this photo last night from Mount Helix--and sure enough, rain is forecast for today and tomorrow.

Read more about moon halos and view some additional photos here:  http://earthsky.org/space/what-makes-a-halo-around-the-moon


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