Stunning image taken of ring of light around moon

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Moon and ringImage source, Calum MacLean

A photographer has captured a stunning image of a halo that could be seen around the moon on Thursday night.

Called a 22-degree halo, the large rings of light can be seen in certain conditions around the moon, and also the sun.

Calum MacLean took his image in a field near Inverness.

Haloes are caused by "poorly orientated" hexagonal ice crystals.

Dr Edward Graham, a meteorologist at the University of the Highlands and Islands' Lews Castle College in Stornoway, Lewis, said: "Crystals actually often orientate themselves when falling.

"For example, try throwing a flat piece of paper downwards and it always moves into a laminar, flat orientation - just like a crystal.

"But in this case, turbulence might keep the crystals randomly orientated."

He added: "I think last night's display was widespread across the whole of Scotland, it was good here in Stornoway too."

Image copyrighted.

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