Circles around the moon. Folk signs of determining the weather by the moon What can you call the halo that appears around the moon

The appearance of circles, pillars, and “additional moons” around the Moon was of great interest. In the Middle Ages, circles around the Moon were considered harbingers of various disasters - from catastrophes to fatal diseases. Of course, these “extra moons” do not pose any danger, but they do guarantee a change in the weather.

What do the circles in the sky around the Moon mean?

This is a well-known optical phenomenon, which is due to the fact that there are a lot of tiny ice crystals in the atmosphere that reflect light rays. Starting from atmospheric ice, the light creates reflections of the real Moon, which appear as large spots of light to the right or left, and very rarely - in all four directions from the Moon itself.

In order for such a phenomenon to occur, the atmosphere must be transparent, the night cloudless and very frosty. Typically, the formation of false moons is associated with anticyclonic weather, that is, cold, stable weather. The appearance of light pillars or stripes near the Moon is explained in a similar way.

How scientists explain the lunar circles of the Moon

Circles around the Moon, or halo, appear due to collision atmospheric fronts when stable weather begins to change. For the formation of such circles, it is necessary that light cirrus clouds form in the sky, which serve as a sign of the appearance of large masses of warm air in the high layers of the atmosphere.

In winter, the appearance of circles brings warming and snowfall, and in summer it is not always associated with warming, but precipitation will be guaranteed. Multi-colored rings around the Moon always foreshadow precipitation (this phenomenon is possible only when the atmosphere is strongly densified). In summer it will rain, in winter it will snow.

A change in weather in this case will occur in a day or a day and a half. It is the thickening of the atmosphere and the appearance of clouds in the sky that give rise to this beautiful optical phenomenon.

Halos are found to occur with thin crystalline clouds located at an altitude of more than 7 km, and crowns - with thin clouds of small droplet structure located at an altitude of 2 to 5 km. The atmosphere thickens within 12 to 36 hours.

And the Moon with “ears,” that is, two pillars of light next to each other, can only form when there are ice crystals in the atmosphere, so it portends frost.

Folk signs associated with circles around the Moon

In the old days, close attention was paid to the halo. And, as a rule, such phenomena were considered not the best omen. Circles could foreshadow pestilence, famine, disease, the death of kingdoms and the death of political figures. But such circles could bring much more trouble to ordinary people - peasants and artisans, which is why most signs associated with lunar circles predict climate change.

In the Russian collection “Kolyadnik” (18th century text, translation from Polish), which was widely circulated in Rus', the following weather changes are indicated:

• “As soon as the month of January is surrounded, there will be great rains.
• If the month of February is surrounded, there will be little life.
• If the month of April is surrounded, there will be a lot of fruit.
• If the month of July is surrounded, death will be a beast.
• If the month of August is surrounded, there will be a lot of fish and honey.
• If the month of September is surrounded, there will be little rain.
• If the month of October is surrounded, it will be dry and there will be little rain.
• If the month of November is surrounded, there will be a lot of life.”

why is there a big circle around the moon? and got the best answer

Answer from Yika[guru]
Ring around the Moon
Have you ever seen a large ghostly white ring around the Moon at night?
Circles around the Moon can be confusing at first. We know that in reality there are no rings around the Moon, rotating in outer space at a distance of about 402,250 km from the Earth. But why then do we see a ring around the Moon? And why does it appear occasionally, and not every night?
These rings are just an optical effect, a gift from our atmosphere. If you look closely, you will see that the ring is not actually white. It looks more like a dim, round rainbow with a light red interior and a pale blue exterior.
The ring around the Moon, also known as a halo, appears when light is refracted by ice crystals in high, cold cirrus clouds. Each hexagonal ice crystal acts like a tiny prism. Ice crystals capture rays of white light and refract it, breaking it down into all the colors of the spectrum.
We see refracted moonlight in the shape of a circle because the crystals collect the light into a cone. (You are the observer and are at the apex of this cone.) If you extend both arms forward, the width of the ring will usually be the size of two of your fists. In general, it depends on the amount of light captured by the crystals. Most of the moonlight is captured and refracted at an angle of 22°, forming a small cone. But there are also larger halos, with an angle of 46°, although not so often. These halos form when moonlight passes through the sharper edges of the crystals.
They say that a halo around the Moon foretells rain, and this is often true, since it only appears on a cloudy night.
And what’s surprising is that this companion could also have a twin brother at the same time.
Here's how scientists think it could have happened. In the destructive race that then unfolded in our Universe, rock fragments circled around the newborn Sun, causing numerous terrible collisions. New planets flew into each other, pieces broke off from some astronomical bodies. This chaos continued for millions of years. And when everything finally calmed down, a solar system. Now nine planets, more than 50 satellites and thousands of asteroids, meteorites, meteorites and comets fly in orbit around the Sun.
Our Moon may have had a dramatic, violent birth. The young Earth was very hot - so hot that molten rocks flowed like rivers of lava across its surface. Scientists believe that a small protoplanet, Theia (about the size of Mars), has formed near the surface of the Earth. And naturally, these two planets eventually collided.
At a speed of about 40,000 km/h, the smaller planet crashed into the Earth. As a result of a gigantic explosion, streams of hot liquid lava shot up into space.
Some of this volcanic material returned to Earth, mixed with molten rocks. But most of the escaped material remained in space, forming a lump of hot rocks that flew in orbit around the Earth. Over thousands of years, this lump cooled and rounded, turning into the white-gray Moon that is familiar to us.
Later, when the collision was simulated using a computer program, scientists came to a stunning discovery. In 9 of the 27 simulated scenarios, two satellites formed. One of them, preserved, we call today the Moon; the second satellite had an orbit even closer to the Earth.
Computer models showed how, as a result of the forces of gravity, the orbit of the satellite closest to us became unstable. Less than 100 years later, he fell to the surface of the Earth and disappeared without a trace.
If the theories are correct, then we may be walking through pieces of our moon's former brother every day.

Answer from ANTOM[guru]
Superimposed solar rays falling on the surface of the Moon and rays of sunlight reflected from the surface of the Earth's satellite.

Answer from Evgeny gasnikov[guru]
A halo (large circle) around the Moon means a change in weather (cold weather).

Nature is amazing and multifaceted not only with the diversity of its flora and fauna, but also with unusual, unique and fantastic phenomena. The origin of most of them is scientifically explainable. halo is one of them.

In ancient times, people ascribed mystical meanings of bad omens to halos, like other inexplicable things (especially for cruciform halos or for twin luminaries). For example, in the “Tale of Igor’s Campaign” it is said that just before the advance of the Polovtsians and the capture of the prince, “four suns shone over the Russian land.” At that time, this was perceived as a sign of the coming of great trouble.

Amazing in nature

There are many phenomena whose origin is not entirely clear to ordinary people. Below is short description several of the most common ones.

Northern lights are a glow that occurs when the upper lights interact with solar charged particles. This fantastic phenomenon can be found mainly in latitudes located closer to the poles.

Shooting stars (luminous points moving across the sky) are small stones or particles of cosmic substances. This spectacle can be seen on a clear night. A bright flash occurs when these pieces invade earth's atmosphere. At certain periods you can also see abundant enchanting “star rain”.

Ball lightning is one of the not entirely explained. In addition to the shape of a ball, this lightning can take on the shape of a pear, drop or mushroom. Its dimensions vary from 5 cm to several meters. This phenomenon is characterized by rather unpredictable behavior and its short duration (several seconds).

Also in nature, processes such as the optical phenomenon of a halo, the formation of pearlescent and biconvex clouds (extremely rare) and even precipitation with living creatures (frog and fish rains) can occur.

What is a halo?

A halo is the most common one in which luminous circles around celestial bodies, “false suns”, various pillars and crosses appear in the sky.

In most cases, it is a regular circle of light. At mid-latitudes it can appear for several days.

The appearance of a halo, unlike other processes, has a scientific basis.

The formation of an amazing circle of light around the sun is explained by the fact that the sun's rays are refracted in the faces of ice crystals contained in clouds and fogs. Distinguish solar halo and lunar.

Variety of shapes and types

In general, a halo is a certain group of phenomena in the atmosphere, namely optical ones.

The most common forms of halo, as noted above, are the following:

• rainbow circles beyond the circumference of the disk of the Moon or the Sun with an angular radius of 22° and 46°;
• “false Suns” (parhelia) or simply bright spots (also iridescent) on both sides of the luminaries at distances of 22° and 46°;
• near-zenith arcs;
• parhelic circles (white horizontal ones) that pass through the disk of the Sun;
• pillars (vertical parts of the white circle); they, in combination with the parhelic circles, form a white cross.

Rainbow halos are formed when rays are refracted, and white halos are formed when they are reflected.

The halo phenomenon is sometimes confused with crowns. They are very similar in appearance, but the latter have a different origin - diffraction.

Description of the circle, variety

Typically, halos appear as rings around the Sun. Moreover, the inside of the ring is bright and slightly reddish in color.

Then the color gradually turns into light yellow, then greenish and even blue-violet, closer to the outer part of the circle.

Sometimes the circle is not completely visible, but only part of it (most often the upper one).

There are also light arcs touching the top or bottom of the circle of light.

Quite rarely, a colorless circle appears extending across the disk of the moon or sun parallel to the horizon. And at the points of intersection of this circle with the halo, bright spots are often visible - these are “false suns”. They are so luminous and bright that they are very reminiscent of a second sun.

Pillars and crosses, the nature of their occurrence

A halo is a phenomenal natural phenomenon that takes on the most bizarre forms. They are visible when there are light cirrus clouds, high up, between the observing person and the luminary planets, or when ice crystals are suspended in the air as separate elements of the correct shape (for example, in the form of a hexagonal prism).

A halo in the form of a vertical column is often found when the planets illuminating the Earth are very close to the horizon (above or below it). Such shapes are explained by the reflection of rays precisely from the horizontal faces of ice crystals in the air. On two sides of the sun you can sometimes see two such pillars. They are part of a halo arc where only part of the circle is visible.

It also happens that pillars can intersect with a horizontal circle. In this case, light crosses may appear to a person’s gaze.

Halo phenomena are very diverse. This is explained by the huge number of forms of ice crystals and their most diverse arrangement in the air.

What do halo phenomena indicate? Omens

Appearance various types and forms can tell about weather changes in the coming hours.

The appearance of a full rainbow circle (sometimes almost invisible) near the sun or moon, which occurs when there are cirrus stratus clouds in the atmosphere, is most often a sign of the approach of a warm front, a cyclone. Windy weather is expected in about 12-20 hours. The brightness of the circle's radiance weakens only when the clouds begin to become very dense.

There are white circles around the Sun (Moon), “false suns,” and pillars without rainbow coloring. In clear weather such optical bodies appear. This phenomenon indicates further stability and preservation of calm and sunny weather, and in winter - severe, prolonged frosts.

Circles around luminaries in the form of a partial ring appear in unstable air masses, in areas of anticyclones (peripheral and rear). This means that we should expect variable weather, with strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Large white circles with a diameter, visible at an angle of 92° near the Sun or Moon, which appear in winter, are signs of a powerful anticyclone or region near a given area high pressure. In such cases, you can expect fairly stable weather, with weak winds and severe frosts.

Many defy any scientifically based theories and explanations. People can only admire the beautiful things they see.

A halo is an understandable and colorful natural phenomenon.

Mars has two of them. Neptune has eight. Saturn has eighteen. And suddenly the Earth has only one Moon. True, it could have been much worse, because Mercury and Venus have no satellites at all.

And yet, why is this so? Why do some planets have one or two satellites, while others have a whole squadron? It seems that the Earth once lost in the Great Lunar Lottery.

However, we must admit that our Moon is a spectacular sight; it is not without reason that it is glorified in many songs and poems. In addition, the beauty, large, round and glowing with a silver light, causes strong tides in the earth's oceans. How would we manage without her?

In our youth, about 4.5 billion years ago, our planet did not survive for long without satellites. Shortly after the formation of the Earth, the Moon was born.

Ring around the Moon
Have you ever seen a large ghostly white ring around the Moon at night?

Circles around the Moon can be confusing at first. We know that in reality there are no rings around the Moon, rotating in outer space at a distance of about 402,250 km from the Earth. But why then do we see a ring around the Moon? And why does it appear occasionally, and not every night?

These rings are just an optical effect, a gift from our atmosphere. If you look closely, you will see that the ring is not actually white. It looks more like a dim, round rainbow with a light red interior and a pale blue exterior.

The ring around the Moon, also known as a halo, appears when light is refracted by ice crystals in high, cold cirrus clouds. Each hexagonal ice crystal acts like a tiny prism. Ice crystals capture rays of white light and refract it, breaking it down into all the colors of the spectrum.

We see refracted moonlight in the shape of a circle because the crystals collect the light into a cone. (You are the observer and are at the apex of this cone.) If you extend both arms forward, the width of the ring will usually be the size of two of your fists. In general, it depends on the amount of light captured by the crystals. Most of the moonlight is captured and refracted at an angle of 22°, forming a small cone. But there are also larger halos, with an angle of 46°, although not so often. These halos form when moonlight passes through the sharper edges of the crystals.

They say that a halo around the Moon foretells rain, and this is often true, since it only appears on a cloudy night.

And what’s surprising is that this companion could also have a twin brother at the same time.

Here's how scientists think it could have happened. In the destructive race that then unfolded in our Universe, rock fragments circled around the newborn Sun, causing numerous terrible collisions. New planets flew into each other, pieces broke off from some astronomical bodies. This chaos continued for millions of years. And when everything finally calmed down, the solar system was formed. Now nine planets, more than 50 satellites and thousands of asteroids, meteorites, meteorites and comets fly in orbit around the Sun.

Our Moon may have had a dramatic, violent birth. The young Earth was very hot - so hot that molten rocks flowed like rivers of lava across its surface. According to scientists, a small protoplanet Theia (about the size of Mars) formed near the surface of the Earth. And naturally, these two planets eventually collided.

At a speed of about 40,000 km/h, the smaller planet crashed into the Earth. As a result of a gigantic explosion, streams of hot liquid lava shot up into space.

Some of this volcanic material returned to Earth, mixed with molten rocks. But most of the escaped material remained in space, forming a lump of hot rocks that flew in orbit around the Earth. Over thousands of years, this lump cooled and rounded, turning into the white-gray Moon that is familiar to us.

Later, when the collision was simulated using a computer program, scientists came to a stunning discovery. In 9 of the 27 simulated scenarios, two satellites formed. One of them, preserved, we call today the Moon; the second satellite had an orbit even closer to the Earth.

Computer models showed how, as a result of the forces of gravity, the orbit of the satellite closest to us became unstable. Less than 100 years later, he fell to the surface of the Earth and disappeared without a trace.

If the theories are correct, then we may be walking through pieces of our moon's former brother every day.