Rare Paraselene Phenomenon Lights Up Moscow Sky

A rare optical phenomenon, known as a paraselene, was observed in Moscow and the surrounding areas. Multiple bright 'disks' of the Moon became visible during the night, due to the refraction of moonlight by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.

The paraselene is caused when moonlight passes through hexagonal ice crystals, which act as prisms, creating additional bright spots on either side of the main image. Low temperatures and the presence of thin ice clouds contributed to the occurrence of the phenomenon.

Although it poses no danger, the paraselene is of interest to meteorologists, astronomers, and photographers due to its rarity and visual beauty.