what is the ring around the moon called

The ring around the moon is usually called a lunar halo or moon halo , and more specifically a “22‑degree halo.”

Quick Scoop

• The classic ring is a 22‑degree halo : a circle of light about 22 degrees away from the moon, always centered on it.

• It happens when moonlight passes through millions of tiny hexagonal ice crystals in high cirrus or cirrostratus clouds high in Earth’s atmosphere.

• As the light enters and exits those crystals, it gets bent (refracted) by about 22 degrees, which creates that neat glowing ring.

• You might also hear people call it a moon ring , winter halo , or even just a halo around the moon in casual speech.

So if someone asks “what is the ring around the moon called?”, the clean, science-style answer is: a lunar (or moon) halo, specifically a 22‑degree halo.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.