Blue Moon Halo in Antarctica

An amazing image with a rare halo, 22 degree rings around the full moon, caused by ice crystals falling in the Earth’s atmosphere, in Antarctica.   Image credit LI Hang

Actually this full moon is a blue moon. Given the modern definition of blue moon — the second full moon occurring in a calendar month — these are also rare. What is featured above might therefore be considered doubly rare — a halo surrounding a blue moon.

The featured image was taken late last month near Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. Visible in the foreground are a power generating house and a snowmobile. What might seem to be stars in the background are actually illuminated snowflakes near the camera.

source APOD