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Astronomy/the moon
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Question
hi i was outside tonight (thursday 28/6/07) and saw a huge ring around the moon. i was just curious to know if you new what it is and wat it means
thanks
The halo around the Moon is caused by Cirrus clouds. Being that thos clouds are about 6 - 8 miles up, where the temperature is about 70 degrees BELOW zero, the clouds are made up of ice crystals.
(( percent of the time, when you see that large halo around the Moon, there will be some sort of precipitation within the next 36 hours.
Steve
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Answers by Expert:
Steven LJ Russo
Expertise
As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.
Experience
Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.
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