Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Themes
  • Videos
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Themes
Videos
App & Extension
  • Australia
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. Australia
  3. 2021
  4. February 08
  5. Moon dog photographed at Hug Point Falls on the Oregon coast, USA
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Moon dog photographed at Hug Point Falls on the Oregon coast, USA

February 08, 2021

Moon dog photographed at Hug Point Falls on the Oregon coast, USA

© Ben Coffman/Tandem Stills + Motio

Why is this night sky so busy?

When the sky is clear, and the moon hangs low in the horizon, you can sometimes spot a halo around it, like the one captured in this image from Hug Point Falls on the coast of the US state of Oregon. And sometimes within that halo, you may also see a bright spot that appears to be a second moon. No, it's not the moon's long-lost twin, but an optical phenomenon called a paraselene, more commonly referred to as a moon dog or mock moon. This 'false' moon can appear when the real moon is at least a quarter visible and is bright enough for its light to refract off hexagonal-plate-shaped ice crystals floating in the atmosphere. Moon dogs are more commonly seen during the region’s winter months, when the ice crystals are more prevalent in the clouds.

The moon dog is the lunar equivalent of a sun dog, also known as a parhelion, and both appear as part of a related optical phenomenon called a 22-degree halo. Halos like these are also caused by crystal refraction in the atmosphere, and named for their apparent radius of 22 degrees, or about 10 diameters outside the moon and sun. A 22-degree halo is said to be visible up to 100 times per year, much more common than a rainbow.

nature beach outdoor water cave landscape sky

Related Images

Llaima Volcano with Araucaria trees in the foreground, Conguillío National Park, ChileLlaima Volcano with Araucaria trees in the foreground, Conguillío National Park, Chile
Aerial view of the Ochsenkopf and Schneeberg mountains, Bavaria, GermanyAerial view of the Ochsenkopf and Schneeberg mountains, Bavaria, Germany
Le Morne Brabant, MauritiusLe Morne Brabant, Mauritius
The Cobb breakwater, Lyme Regis, Dorset, EnglandThe Cobb breakwater, Lyme Regis, Dorset, England
Clearing snowstorm, Yosemite National Park, CaliforniaClearing snowstorm, Yosemite National Park, California
Rocks in the Verzasca River near the hamlet of Lavertezzo in the Valle Verzasca of SwitzerlandRocks in the Verzasca River near the hamlet of Lavertezzo in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland
Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park, ArgentinaPerito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Onkaparinga River, Port Noarlunga, South AustraliaOnkaparinga River, Port Noarlunga, South Australia

Today Bing

Aerial view of Superkilen Park in Norrebro district in Copenhagen, Denmark

Aerial view of Superkilen Park in Norrebro district in Copenhagen, Denmark

Feb 08, 2020
Almond orchards in bloom, Sacramento Valley, California

Almond orchards in bloom, Sacramento Valley, California

Feb 08, 2019
Speed skaters training at the Gangneung Oval on 4 February 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea

Speed skaters training at the Gangneung Oval on 4 February 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea

Feb 08, 2018
Mangroves in Garigal National Park, Sydney, New South Wales

Mangroves in Garigal National Park, Sydney, New South Wales

Feb 08, 2017
‘New Orleans Second Line’ painting

‘New Orleans Second Line’ painting

Feb 08, 2016
Northern pygmy-owl, Glacier National Park, Montana

Northern pygmy-owl, Glacier National Park, Montana

Feb 08, 2015

Related Tags

landscape nature outdoor sky water mountain cloud lake shore beach ocean tree plant distance sea rock snow hillside lush lighthouse
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2020 Peapix.com
  • Privacy
  • App
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.