October 30, 2026
This morning, as I walked out to my car in the quiet early darkness, I looked up and saw the moon wrapped in a pale, icy ring.
It felt like the sky was wearing a halo.
That glowing circle is most likely something called a 22-degree lunar halo, created when moonlight passes through millions of tiny ice crystals high above us, suspended in thin, wispy clouds where temperatures are well below freezing.
As moonlight passes through these crystals, it bends, creating a nearly perfect circle of light around the moon.
There’s even an old weather saying:
“Ring around the moon, rain or snow soon.”
That’s because the high-altitude clouds responsible for these halos can sometimes arrive ahead of an approaching weather system.
But whether the halo signals changing weather or simply provides a beautiful celestial display, it was one of those small, unexpected moments that makes you slow down, look up, and appreciate the world around you.
Sometimes, nature puts on its best shows when nobody is expecting them.
And this morning, I’m glad I happened to look up.
