Stunning image shows the moon surrounded by a celestial rainbow

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Stunning image shows the moon surrounded by a celestial rainbow as light reflecting off the silvery surface is split by water particles in the air

  • The rare phenomenon was captured by photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza, 45, near Parma in Italy
  • The spectacle, known as a luna corona, occurs when light is split by water particles or ice crystals in the air
  • Mr Panizza spent two hours outside with his camera taking hundreds of images between 10pm and 12am

By Emer Scully For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

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A stunning photograph has captured the moon surrounded by a multi-coloured halo as light reflecting off the silvery surface was split by water particles in the air.

The rare phenomenon was captured by photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza, 45, near the northern Italian city of Parma.

Known as a luna corona, the spectacle occurs when light reflecting off the moon is split by water particles or ice crystals in the air.

Mr Panizza said: ‘I have seen this phenomenon several times, but I had never been able to photograph it.’

The rare phenomenon was captured by photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza, 45, near the northern Italian city of Parma

He said being home for lockdown meant he had the equipment he needed to take hundreds of snaps of the celestial object. 

He spent two hours photographing the phenomenon.  

‘This time, seeing it from home for the lockdown, I had with me all the necessary equipment to best capture this moment,’ he added.

‘Between 10pm and 12am I took a few hundred photos of the moon that created halos, iridescences and crowns among clouds and veils.’

The photograph captured the moon’s craters with clarity as a large ring of colour encapsulated it.  

The incredible image featured an almost clear sky, with just a few atmospheric wisps of cloud. 

And, adding to the effect, stars can be seen glinting from inside the rainbow after Mr Panizza’s camera picked up every detail of the night’s sky.

A luna corona occurs when light reflecting from the surface of the moon is split by water or ice crystals in the air 

Luna coronas are seen when clouds are thin enough that each single light ray reaching the eye is scattered by a droplet.  

They feature several concentric, pastel-coloured rings and a central bright area called the aureole. This is often the most visible part, and sometimes the only visible section of the spectacle. 

The aureole is a bluish white and fades into a brown colour towards its outer edge. If visible, the rainbow colours surround this central feature.

The luna corona is usually most pronounced when the water droplets are all the same, or similar, sizes. 

And it’s not just ice or water than can cause the light to split to create a luna corona. Pollen in the air can have the same effect.