the moon?

Saw the hazy ring around it last night, but it didn't have one tonight, when I looked. It was so damn pretty and still, I thought about slipping my canoe in the water and going for a little paddle, but it was a bit chilly -- maybe tomorrow.

I can't see through the trees...

On Sunday night, here in Dallas, the moon was beautiful sitting in the clear cold sky! There was a little "freckle" of a star at the bottom right that was very bright!

Saw the hazy ring around it last night, but it didn't have one tonight, when I looked. It was so damn pretty and still, I thought about slipping my canoe in the water and going for a little paddle, but it was a bit chilly -- maybe tomorrow.

Moon light canoe rides are the best!

Beautiful in Tennessee. Full and bright with a heavy frost on the ground. Sparkling skies and ground....wonderful sight.

Moon light canoe rides are the best!

I have never been on a moonlight canoe ride, although it sounds really grayt....but I do have to wonder how many gator eyes would be staring at me from the dark water.....

right now, not many gator eyes would be staring at you. It is too cold around here for them to be moving around very much. They have to conserve their energy.

right now, not many gator eyes would be staring at you. It is too cold around here for them to be moving around very much. They have to conserve their energy.

Well then I guess I'm good to go!

Went canoeing in Grayton in May....wasn't so easy...must have been my misguided partner

Was just outside and the moon looks amazing! It has a big ring around it - it's breath taking! Anyone else see it??

Merry Christmas!!

Beachmom and I saw that ring. It was beautiful...I've never seen one nearly so big. I wonder what caused that.

The moon ring the other night was caused by the moonlight reflecting off of the ice crystals in the air. A quarter of a century ago, when I lived south of Cleveland, that ususally meant you were going to get snow. So we called it a snow moon. Down here, we just got fog.

"An icebow is phenomenon similar to a rainbow except that it is formed by the refraction of sunlight through cloud suspended ice crystals as opposed to raindrops or other liquid water suspended in the air."



(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)#Icebow)

As for that little star hanging around the moon, that is actually Mars, and it is at its closest to Earth as it is going to be for quite some time.

"Mars-
This is an important month for Mars-watchers. In Gemini, it is the nearest it has been to Earth in two years on the 18th, then reaches opposition on Christmas Eve and is occulted by the Moon (as seen from the far North) on the same day."

(http://www.space.com/spacewatch/sky_calendar.html)

Enjoy it while it lasts! I love this stuff!

dka

Thanks DKA! You rock! I have officially learned something new today! The picture is exactly what I saw the other night. Thanks!

The moon ring the other night was caused by the moonlight reflecting off of the ice crystals in the air. A quarter of a century ago, when I lived south of Cleveland, that ususally meant you were going to get snow. So we called it a snow moon. Down here, we just got fog.

"An icebow is phenomenon similar to a rainbow except that it is formed by the refraction of sunlight through cloud suspended ice crystals as opposed to raindrops or other liquid water suspended in the air."



(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)#Icebow)

As for that little star hanging around the moon, that is actually Mars, and it is at its closest to Earth as it is going to be for quite some time.

"Mars-
This is an important month for Mars-watchers. In Gemini, it is the nearest it has been to Earth in two years on the 18th, then reaches opposition on Christmas Eve and is occulted by the Moon (as seen from the far North) on the same day."

(http://www.space.com/spacewatch/sky_calendar.html)

Enjoy it while it lasts! I love this stuff!

dka

I have never been on a moonlight canoe ride, although it sounds really grayt....but I do have to wonder how many gator eyes would be staring at me from the dark water.....

Great motivation to not fall out of the canoe or tip it over ;-).

Great motivation to not fall out of the canoe or tip it over ;-).

I'll say! ...those reptiles still have to eat...I would guess I'm below them in the food chain...

The moon ring the other night was caused by the moonlight reflecting off of the ice crystals in the air. A quarter of a century ago, when I lived south of Cleveland, that ususally meant you were going to get snow. So we called it a snow moon. Down here, we just got fog.

"An icebow is phenomenon similar to a rainbow except that it is formed by the refraction of sunlight through cloud suspended ice crystals as opposed to raindrops or other liquid water suspended in the air."



(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)#Icebow)

As for that little star hanging around the moon, that is actually Mars, and it is at its closest to Earth as it is going to be for quite some time.

"Mars-
This is an important month for Mars-watchers. In Gemini, it is the nearest it has been to Earth in two years on the 18th, then reaches opposition on Christmas Eve and is occulted by the Moon (as seen from the far North) on the same day."

(http://www.space.com/spacewatch/sky_calendar.html)

Enjoy it while it lasts! I love this stuff!

dka

Thanks...that is so cool....i wasn't able to see it through the trees the other night...It stinks I missed it!

Was just outside and the moon looks amazing! It has a big ring around it - it's breath taking! Anyone else see it??

Merry Christmas!!

On Sunday night, here in Dallas, the moon was beautiful sitting in the clear cold sky! There was a little "freckle" of a star at the bottom right that was very bright!

I saw it and it was amazing!!​

Mars may really have a freckle on it soon....​

Scientists say asteroid may hit Mars in late January - AOL News​

The Mars thing sounds really cool, possibly something we could see from Earth with an inexpensive telescope.

The Mars thing sounds really cool, possibly something we could see from Earth with an inexpensive telescope.

Yes! or a decent pair of Binoculars !

Thanks DKA! You rock! I have officially learned something new today! The picture is exactly what I saw the other night. Thanks!

EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPH!​

Thank you!
​

Thanks...that is so cool....i wasn't able to see it through the trees the other night...It stinks I missed it!

Yeah, you missed it. It was actually straight overhead, no trees would have been in the way. I think it was later at night, around 10ish? The moon was directly overhead. Then again it might have been a cloud cover issue depending on where you were.

The Mars thing sounds really cool, possibly something we could see from Earth with an inexpensive telescope.

Hence another reason to check out the Bay Astronomy club. If it happens at night, and we have a chance to watch it, they will be out with all their telescopes. They love to share and talk about their telescopes. Some are made from scratch. This is how I first saw the rings around Saturn, and the "storm" on Jupiter. Waaaaaaaayyyy Coooool.

dka

In KY it was sooooooo big and orange, it almost looked like a harvest moon. What a beautiful Christmas present.

Interesting about the ring being caused by the reflection of ice crystals in the air. That would explain the Farm Wisdom, per ShallowFuzz's grandmother:
"When you see that ring around the moon, enjoy it. Then make sure you have plenty of firewood and that your long johns are handy, 'cause it's fixin' to be COLD."