Lunar halo phenomenon spotted around moon in Dorset

Last night, a large ring could be seen around the moon across the county.

A halo around the moon appears when a thin layer of cirrus cloud made up of ice crystals moves across the sky.

Refraction of the light by the ice crystals causes the halo to form.

Echo Camera Club member Sharon Wheeler captured a fantastic image of the phenomenon.

Lunar halo in Dorset (Image: Sharon Wheeler)

She took the photo from her garden, describing the sight as ‘amazing.’

According to the met office, ‘haloes require ice crystals to form - either from high cirrus cloud of free falling crystals.

Emma Black captured this image of the lunar halo (Image: Emma Black)

‘Typically, sunlight or moonlight is reflected by ice crystals producing a white halo. However, if the light rays strike the light at a particular angle, some light may be refracted. In such situations the halo will have a faint colouration.’

Lunar halo in Dorset (Image: Andy Smith)

In the past haloes and other atmospheric phenomena were used as a form of weather forecasting before the development of meteorology.

Lunar halo captured in Dorset (Image: Ming Mok)

Ming Mok was out on a 'walk to the Farmer’s Field in Blandford Forum' when he captured this beautiful snap.

Lunar halo in Dorset (Image: Lindsay Loader)Lindsay Loader caught this incredible shot of the lunar halo behind a tree.

Lunar halo in Dorset (Image: Kerry Arnold)

Kerry Arnold said: It was beautiful and I am so happy I got to see it."