Stunning images captured the moment a "lunar halo" phenomenon appeared around the moon last night.
People across the UK took incredible photographs and shared them on social media, celebrating the unusual formation. A ring of light appeared around the moon, which was seen brightly last night as skies were so clear.
It was seen in Staffordshire, the West Midlands, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight among other areas after sunset after around 4pm. The Met Office says the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere suggests rainfall might be approaching - and weather maps support this.
A spokesperson for the national weather service said: "The halo is caused by ice crystals formed in high clouds. These ice crystals then refract the light from the Moon or Sun. As the ice crystals travel lower, precipitation becomes more likely. In summer months particularly, the Halo can be a sign of approaching storms."
They spoke to BBC News today as pictures of the "lunar halo" continue to get shared widely on social media platforms. One woman posted: "I saw this really clearly last night in the suburbs of south Manchester."
And Angie Burns, a TV and radio presenter at Marlow FM, captured a glimpse of the phenomenon in Berkshire. She said: "It was the first time I’ve seen something like this so close... It was unbelievable and yet tranquil."
Simon Collins, who took a snap in Reigate, Surrey, described witnessing the occurrence as “amazing”, with others online commenting that it was "very weird" and "like a night-time rainbow". Simon, a 57-year-old geographer, added: "I’m a keen weather observer (and) run a local weather station so am always delighted to see lovely weather phenomena as so many others did last night as well."
Rain is expected throughout Sunday and on Monday, the Met Office says. Writing on its website, the weather service adds: "Outbreaks of rain easing through Monday, with brighter skies following. Breezy with showers and hill snow affecting parts of Scotland and northeast England. Rather cold, but milder in the south." As temperatures drop later in the week, it is widely thought "significant snow" will fall, even on lower ground, across the nation.