Large halo around the moon tonight, is this common?
So I heard an owl or something screetching outside and went to check it out just now. When I walked out back of my house I noticed the moon up above with a large halo around it. Tried to get some pics but all I got is my phone and it is a piece of crap.
The night sky is kinda cloudy tonight, is this just the light from moon hitting the clouds and making the halo shape? I've never seen that before.... looks kinda cool but freaked me out too.
Also, I've seen some theories that the moon gives off its own glow that is distinct from the sun, light is colder vs sun that is hotter. And supposedly Venus has its own light too (her "golden hair") now that I mention it ... what are peoples thoughts on that? What have you observed? A telescope is on my to-do list, really trying to check out Venus for myself. I think she holds many mysteries.
Posted Feb 28, 2018, 5:37 AM UTC
The ring around the moon is a [Halo](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon\)). It's caused by ice crystals.
The moon does emit light but not in the visible portion of the spectrum. Most things that absorb light (like a rock in the sun) radiate it back away in the form of black body radiation most of which is in the infrared.
Venus certainly has mysteries, but a lot less than it used to since we've landed there many times and mapped the entire surface from orbit.