Double Crescent

[Ric]

I was having a look at the waning crescent of the Moon this morning at about 6.30 when I noticed that there was a second crescent beside it but only about one third of the length.

Does anyone know what type of effect or phenomena I was seeing. It definitely was a very interesting sight.

Cheers

[Dennis]

Hi Ric

Interesting - was that with the naked eye, or through a ‘scope?

Cheers

Dennis

[Ric]

Hi Dennis

It was with the naked eye and the morning temp was also around -3 degrees.

Cheers

[Dennis]

Hi Ric

Oh well, that rules out instrumentation artifacts!

At those low temperatures (brrr!) I suspect this might have been caused by some atmospheric phenomenon, reflections from airborne ice crystals perhaps?

SpaceWeather sometimes publishes photos of atmospheric phenomenon but I don’t recollect having seen what you described.

Cheers

Dennis

[Ric]

Hi Dennis

I've been searching the web as well for something similar but to no avail as yet.

My wife also described what sounded like a awesome earthshine as well when she went off to work at about 5.30

Cheers

[Lumen Miner]

Oh interesting!! I wish I had seen that!

On the way home from work yesterday, I noticed through my UV sunnies that the sushine on the clouds was veru unusual.
It was a casting almost an oil like shine to the clouds. Like a rainbow except through the surrounding clouds, over them, through them.

[seanliddelow]

I have got quite bad eyes and I see the moon as a double cresent because of as a result of my bad eyes.

[Ric]

I still haven't found any info on this effect as yet.

Hi Sean, I hope my eyes aren't playing up on me as well.

Cheers

[Robh]

This is my hypothesis.
The larger crescent was the normal and direct view of the Moon.
Off the line of sight, there was a high layer of atmospheric vapour in the shape of a rough lens (like a lens shape cloud). This focussed the incoming crescent image as a smaller image onto a less dense layer of vapour below but off the line of sight. A fluke of shape and position of atmospheric vapour.
The smaller crescent should have been less defined.

Regards, Rob.

[Ric]

That sounds very plausible Rob.

I'm going to have the camera at the ready next time and see if I can capture an image.

Cheers

[seanliddelow]

I had so much chlorine in my eyes yesterday i saw like 10 cresents all around each other:doh: