Manila, Philippines- A lunar halo was spotted last night, Jan. 13 buzz a lot of speculations about a bad weather coming.
But the PAGASA reassures Pinoys that the phenomenon will not indicate any weather disturbance and just normal occurrence.
Photos of the moon with its halo are all over different social media networks.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), the lunar halo did not indicate any storm but an "optical effect caused by the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere."
The picturesque sight last night was caused by clouds. The phenomena happen when a cirrostratus clouds are present in the area.
"Cirro-stratus clouds bend light at a 22-degree angle which forms a halo of 44 degrees in diameter," University of the Philippines Astronomical Society posted on its facebook account.
Also, it is caused by low pressure area in Visayas region.
Only bright stars are seen in the night when this cloud is present. The brightness of the lunar halo depends on how thick are the clouds present.
Some query about the lunar halo flooded the social networking sites. Folklores about the moon are also recalled.
PAGASA announced that another lunar phenomenon is will occur.
The "micro moon" also known as "full wolf moon" or the "Moon after Yule" will likely to occur 4:52 on January 16, Universal time. This is when the moon reaches it furthest point in its orbit.
The moon will be 250,000 miles away, about 4 percent further than its normal distance. This will be 14 percent smaller and 30 dimmer.
Last Nov.28, 2012, the moon was last reported to be a "micro moon".
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