Usually the atmosphere is full of ice crystals, but at times some do line up to party, and moonlight reflects off their hexagonal bodies at a 22-degree angle, causing a 22-degrees-diameter iridescent ring around the moon. Majestic!! Rare here in Missouri, but it happened Tonight, with a first-quarter moon. When clouds began to drift in, the ring vanished. Why do I never think about the beauty of ice rings until I see one? It's always a surprise gift! Hardy migrating birds such as flickers and sapsuckers may appear any day now.
Divinebunbun lives in a log cabin on 100 acres in the rocky Ozark foothills. Her porch is a box seat on nature and the seasons. This is her journal of chores and mysteries, natural history photos, and observations.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Ring Around the Moon Tonight
Usually the atmosphere is full of ice crystals, but at times some do line up to party, and moonlight reflects off their hexagonal bodies at a 22-degree angle, causing a 22-degrees-diameter iridescent ring around the moon. Majestic!! Rare here in Missouri, but it happened Tonight, with a first-quarter moon. When clouds began to drift in, the ring vanished. Why do I never think about the beauty of ice rings until I see one? It's always a surprise gift! Hardy migrating birds such as flickers and sapsuckers may appear any day now.
Ice crytal magic in your precise descriptions. Thank you.
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