It’s wonderful to see a halo around the moon… And also a colorful aurora.
But how about seeing the two together? Anatoly Hlopotnyuk captured the view.
This unique image of a lunar halo combined to a bright aurora was imaged over Pechora (Komi Republic, Russia, 20-21.03.16) by Anatoly Hlopotnyuk during the great auroral display around the world between March 17 to 21, 2016.
The ice crystals of the thin cirrus layer that created the halo are well below the glowing atoms of the aurora.
Here a video from January 30, 2013 of an Aurora Borealis and Lunar Halo over Prelude Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada:
At this time of year, a glancing blow can be enough to spark bright auroras. For unknown reasons, the weeks around equinoxes favor geomagnetic storms. Even a gentle gust of solar wind can produce a magnificent display.
