On a mile walk along the shoreline beginning at 5:45 am this morning, there was an almost full moon. Except it was very enormous, kind of resembling this photo. The only difference was this morning's orange-gold moon had a thin white outline and a wide orange-gold band that touched the white outline, making the moon look huge. Rings or bands around the moon are refraction from ice crystals. Both the moon and its band became more orange as they neared the ocean horizon.
"The Snow Moon is the Full Moon in February, named after the snow on the ground. Some North American tribes named it the Hunger Moon due to the scarce food sources and hard hunting conditions during mid-winter, while others named it the Storm Moon." [timeanddate.com] Last night we did experience strong, micro-burst winds of about sixty mph.
"The full “snow moon” of February 2021 will be glowing in the night sky this weekend, officially reaching its fullest phase at 3:17 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27. The moon will be 99% full Friday night, 100% full Saturday night and 98% full Sunday night." [nj.com]
A beautiful and strange picture. It’s so unusual.
Have observed the several-ringed moon many times here.
"A lunar halo is caused by the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light through ice particles suspended within thin, wispy, high altitude cirrus or cirrostratus clouds . . . Lunar halos are, in fact, actually fairly common. So watch the night sky — and keep the umbrella handy!" [farmersalmanac.com]
@AnonySchmoose Our rings are never that intense
@ADKSparky
Well, there is lots of moisture in the sky here. We get lots of rainbows and moon halos. There are double and triple rainbows. And the lunar halos have looked like the one in the photo. At night there is less reflected light from cities, so the phenomena are also easier to see. That's why astrophysicists wish to build the TMT on Mauna Kea on the Big Island to study the stars, etc.
@AnonySchmoose Are they going to get to put the telescope there?
@dalefvictor
The controversy has been like treading on eggshells all along.
The Hawaii government desires to be politically correct toward Hawaiians, while the Hawaiian protestors base their opposition on the sacredness of Hawaiian religious beliefs. It is a highly prestigious telescope, is of financial benefit to the upkeep of the TMT site, to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, as well as a stimulus to Hawaii's economy. Most Hawaii residents and most blooded Hawaiians want the TMT. Not only would it be prestigious for the state of Hawaii, TMT would show reverence and respect for the amazing Hawaiian skills and understanding of navigation by the stars.
It's called a Snow moon and is a fairly rare meteorological phenomena.
Yes, it was dazzling and seems rare, yet in Hawaii not so rare!
I saw it in the skies here last night too...it prompted my post “The Whole Of The Moon” in the Music Fans group earlier this morning.
Upon listening, I found the Killers cover is mellow, and loved the lyrics of 'The Whole of the Moon.' Thanks for posting. We're near in terms of observed phenomena.
That's gorgeous! I'm seldom up early enough to see the moon set, but the few times I've seen it, it's been lovely. I'm on the moon rise side of the island, which is often stunning, but tonight's clouds on the horizon only left me with this view after dinner on the beach. I like your colorful photo better!
Your pic is gorgeous too. Normally, I manipulate pic highlights and colors. And in your pic the light line and/or band around the moon appears. I didn't take the pic in my post. Your pic shows the dark storm clouds in the sky, which were hovering above in the morning.
Here is the moon this morning.
Not as dramatic as yesterday, yet glowing.
@AnonySchmoose Wow, the manipulated colors make it way more eye catching! Yes, I understood the photo you posted wasn't yours, but still stunning nonetheless. The moon rise and set looks different each time I see it. Some months are colorful with the pink/purple clouds and the golden moon rising, and sometimes the sun has gone down too long before I see the moon. I love it on those rare times I see it rise over the clear horizon. Those are always the times I forget to bring my good camera!
@Julie808
Have seen lunar halos here look like the post pic. Dazzling.
@AnonySchmoose This picture looks like we are on a planet with two moons. The street light could be another moon.