<p>No, because the size of the halo is determined by the properties of ice crystals, the distance to the Moon is irrelevant. So you get a <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/22%C2%B0_halo" rel="nofollow noreferrer">22° halo</a>
 with both the Sun &amp; the Moon, even though the Sun's much further away.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T12:36:50.563Z
I shall, also I'll VTC my own question. Didn't mean it as meteorological, mostly because I didn't know it was meteorological.
Magic Octopus Urn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T09:21:53.507Z
2018-10-22T09:21:53.507Z
PM 2Ring
<p>I was looking at a very bright moon tonight through light cloud cover and saw a halo of light far bigger than the moon imposed on the clouds. Almost in a conic shape by comparison. I was wondering if early astronomers could use this difference to calculate the distance of the moon given the height of the cloud and the dimensions of earth.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-21T04:43:52.833Z
@pm2ring the 22 degrees wouldnt aid a calculation of distance?
Magic Octopus Urn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-21T06:00:49.977Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because if it concerns the 22 degree halo, it is a meteology question.  If it is not about this halo, it is unclear
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T09:13:29.947Z
@PM2Ring that's a valid answer to this question, more than just a comment.
Glorfindel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T09:45:50.757Z
Could be, because the question is based a misconception, but it's a *question* about (historical) astronomy, with a non-astronomic answer.
Glorfindel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T12:41:05.720Z
@JamesK at the time I didn't know it was meteorological in nature. I've cast the final VTC vote, and accepted the answer posted.
Magic Octopus Urn
<the-moon>
How could original astronomers have used the clouds to find distances?
Magic Octopus Urn
# How could original astronomers have used the clouds to find distances?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-21)

I was looking at a very bright moon tonight through light cloud cover and saw a halo of light far bigger than the moon imposed on the clouds. Almost in a conic shape by comparison. I was wondering if early astronomers could use this difference to calculate the distance of the moon given the height of the cloud and the dimensions of earth.

**Tags:** the-moon
> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @pm2ring the 22 degrees wouldnt aid a calculation of distance?  
> **username_1**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because if it concerns the 22 degree halo, it is a meteology question.  If it is not about this halo, it is unclear  
> **username_2**: @PM2Ring that's a valid answer to this question, more than just a comment.  
> **username_2**: Could be, because the question is based a misconception, but it's a *question* about (historical) astronomy, with a non-astronomic answer.  
> **username_0**: @JamesK at the time I didn't know it was meteorological in nature. I've cast the final VTC vote, and accepted the answer posted.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-22. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

No, because the size of the halo is determined by the properties of ice crystals, the distance to the Moon is irrelevant. So you get a [22° halo](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/22%C2%B0_halo)
with both the Sun & the Moon, even though the Sun's much further away.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I shall, also I'll VTC my own question. Didn't mean it as meteorological, mostly because I didn't know it was meteorological.  

---

