Moon halo seen in the skies tonight in natural phenomena

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.

The Moon and Jupiter chillin. pic.twitter.com/uHMvSeCMaq

— Paddy McGuinness 💙 (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 25, 2023

Many have been posting pictures of the natural phenomena on social media.

Has anyone else seen this ring of light around the moon in Bury tonight? pic.twitter.com/30d8Q4ozCY

— Harriet Heywood (@Heywoodharriet_) November 25, 2023

One said: "Check out the moon halo in the sky right now!

"Looks amazing, and Jupiter is just to the right.

Check out the moon halo in the sky right now! Looks amazing, and Jupiter is just to the right! #preston #moonhalo pic.twitter.com/m1qhJAXUw3

— Sonia Bashir 🔥📸 (@SoniaBashir_) November 25, 2023

One local resident said:"It looks amazing, I've never seen anything like this before, it is looks so dramatic.

No luck with the #auroraborealis but nice 22° moon halo at the moment over Blackpool. Go out & have a look 👀 see if you can see it 🌝 pic.twitter.com/lDY29kyuXJ

— Stephen Cheatley Photo 📸 (@Stephencheatley) November 25, 2023

"There have been so many wonderful pictures posted across Twitter."

Website Space.Com states: "This striking and often beautiful halo around the moon is caused by the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. 

"The effect is so striking that it has given rise to a wealth of folklore and superstition, and was used not entirely unsuccessfully used to predict the onset of bad weather."