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I just encountered an interesting image in sky. As you can see in following images there was a ring-like image around light of the moon. I don't know if it was clouds but it was looking like it is far above the clouds. I got curious and only place I know I could get some answers is here. It is much more clear in first photo, other ones are a bit blocked by clouds in between

Here are some photos I took: Photo 1 Photo 2

enter image description here

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What you are seeing in those images is an ice halo. A halo is an optical phenomenon produced by ice crystals. Many can be observed while looking at the Sun or the Moon.

To be precise, they are produced by the ice crystals in cirrus clouds high in the upper troposphere, at an altitude between 5 kilometres and 10 kilometres. The particular shape and orientation of the crystals is responsible for the type of halo observed. Light is reflected and refracted by the ice crystals and may split into colors because of dispersion. The crystals behave like prisms and mirrors, refracting and reflecting sunlight or moonlight between their faces, sending shafts of light in particular directions.

See this web page about atmospheric optics for more information on ice halos and other atmospherical optics phenomena.

This image shows an ice halo observed while looking at the Sun:

Ice halo observed while looking at the Sun

The following figure illustrates how the different geometries of the ice crystal create different types of ice halos:

Types of halos http://portal.in.th/files/2/7/3/2010/06/21/Frequent_Halos.JPG

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  • $\begingroup$ I heard that seeing the ring is a sign that the weather is changing. $\endgroup$
    – djangofan
    Nov 28, 2012 at 23:35
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    $\begingroup$ Regarding a change in weather, the presence of halos usually indicates an approach of a warm front and its also associated rain. $\endgroup$
    – Mike
    Nov 28, 2012 at 23:38

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