Over the weekend, a “lunar halo” was visible in the night sky across various locations in the UK, including areas such as Staffordshire, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight. The phenomenon occurs when moonlight is refracted through upper atmospheric ice crystals, creating a ring-like appearance around the moon. The Met Office has said that this common event has also previously been known to suggest approaching rainfall.
Geographer Simon Collins, who took a photo of the lunar halo in Reigate, Surrey, said he was “delighted” to have witnessed the phenomenon. Some other observers also described the occurrence as “amazing”, while others felt it was rather eerie, like a “night time rainbow”. Lunar halos are often seen in the summer months, and could be an indication of imminent storms.
The Met Office explained that the halo is created by ice crystals formed in high clouds. As these travel lower, the likelihood of precipitation, such as rain, becomes higher. Researchers have suggested that studying the dispersion patterns of these ice crystals as they move through the atmosphere could prove useful for better understanding issues such as pollution, climate change, and weather patterns.
Overall, the lunar halo is a fascinating quirk of nature, and an opportunity for the general public to stop and appreciate the marvels of the natural world
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