<p>Clouds are obviously not completely opaque, and what you are seeing is a break in the clouds. It is of course possible for the clouds to cover the moon, however, often the moon can shine brightly through the clouds and illuminate the clouds in some nice way.</p>

<p>This video might help in a visual way: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLd_yhIWE48" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLd_yhIWE48</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-27T20:43:01.107Z
2017-11-10T13:48:12.503Z
2017-11-10T13:48:12.503Z
MichaelJRoberts
<p>Then I'll try try again sir.The sky is cloudy but the moon is visible with our naked eyes.Why it is appeared in so cloudy night sky.Because the moon is it in rotation curve or orbital path.The frequency of the light of the moon is more than the breaking clouds motion.The moon have been appeared due to thin condensation of clouds over the sky.Besides stars are dim light to diffraction of the moon light in a cloudy night sky.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-15T06:10:04.023Z
What does "The frequency of the light of the moon is more than the breaking clouds motion" mean? That makes no sense at all.
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-15T06:58:27.473Z
O.k,Sir I meant to say about the electromagnetic wave of the moon upon the collisiision of clouds burst.
Ronjon Handique
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-15T09:27:15.723Z
You can edit the answer itself with the clarification(s). Doing so is very much encouraged by how this site works. That said, I'm afraid I don't understand quite either what you are trying to say.
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-15T05:14:01.070Z
2024-07-15T05:14:01.070Z
Ronjon Handique
<p>That is called a corona. It is caused by diffraction of light by thin clouds with small but evenly sized particles. <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150615.html" rel="nofollow">The best coronas</a> show multiple coloured bands.</p>

<p>There is a similar, but unrelated, phenomenon, <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150811.html" rel="nofollow">called a halo</a>, which is caused by high altitude ice crystals with a regular hexagonal shape. It is much larger, 22 degrees wide.</p>

<p>Both these can be seen around the sun as well as the moon, and are fairly common, more common than rainbows (for example). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-20T05:36:46.047Z
2016-07-20T05:36:46.047Z
James K
<p>Now, I was looking the sky when I saw the Moon showing up in a sky completely cloudy, like this: </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/oX5de.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oX5de.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>But a little different. The clouds were doing an eye shape. What does explain that phenomenon? Looks as if moonbeams drilled through the clouds! </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-27T12:42:00.490Z
not exactly theses optical phenomenon. What I saw was the same phenomenon than the picture. Showing a certain deep, from the clouds until the moon. Sorry it's hard to explain when I have no knowledge about it
Shinomoto Asakura
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-20T11:21:06.620Z
It's a sunny day on Earth's moon. That and what what @MichaelJRoberts said.
Logan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-07T05:19:50.317Z
my question is why does more light not show? surely the moon is not projecting a direct beam of light which only lights that small area of clouds. what is the phenomenon that only allows us to see the area directly in front of the moon light up?
Sargent
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-07T13:23:22.657Z
@Sargent Please use the "Ask Question" link above to ask further questions. Thanks!
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-14T14:12:11.397Z
O.K sir,I am very curious to see the moon while it is amidst clouds in a dark night but it is a half moon.Nothing full imaged to be seen as a half moon but it is seen as a dispersed moon like brightening as a diamond pieces.I think it is a trimming reflection or refraction of clouds.Whenever light of the moon scattered towards the earth through nebula.
Ronjon Handique
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-12-14T11:00:12.800Z
The picture present here is just a case among many.
It is very common for the moon to peek through clouds as if moon is too bright and the clouds are thinly layered, as the clouds don't block all of the light coming from the moon, the moon is also visible clearly :)
sheyahi
<the-moon><amateur-observing>
Why does the moon appear on cloudy night sky?
Shinomoto Asakura
# Why does the moon appear on cloudy night sky?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-26)

Now, I was looking the sky when I saw the Moon showing up in a sky completely cloudy, like this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/oX5de.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/oX5de.jpg)

But a little different. The clouds were doing an eye shape. What does explain that phenomenon? Looks as if moonbeams drilled through the clouds!

**Tags:** the-moon, amateur-observing

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: not exactly theses optical phenomenon. What I saw was the same phenomenon than the picture. Showing a certain deep, from the clouds until the moon. Sorry it's hard to explain when I have no knowledge about it  
> **username_1**: It's a sunny day on Earth's moon. That and what what @username_6 said.  
> **username_2**: my question is why does more light not show? surely the moon is not projecting a direct beam of light which only lights that small area of clouds. what is the phenomenon that only allows us to see the area directly in front of the moon light up?  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Please use the "Ask Question" link above to ask further questions. Thanks!  
> **username_4**: O.K sir,I am very curious to see the moon while it is amidst clouds in a dark night but it is a half moon.Nothing full imaged to be seen as a half moon but it is seen as a dispersed moon like brightening as a diamond pieces.I think it is a trimming reflection or refraction of clouds.Whenever light of the moon scattered towards the earth through nebula.  
> **username_5**: The picture present here is just a case among many. It is very common for the moon to peek through clouds as if moon is too bright and the clouds are thinly layered, as the clouds don't block all of the light coming from the moon, the moon is also visible clearly :)  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_9 on 2016-07-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

That is called a corona. It is caused by diffraction of light by thin clouds with small but evenly sized particles. [The best coronas](http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150615.html) show multiple coloured bands.

There is a similar, but unrelated, phenomenon, [called a halo](http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150811.html), which is caused by high altitude ice crystals with a regular hexagonal shape. It is much larger, 22 degrees wide.

Both these can be seen around the sun as well as the moon, and are fairly common, more common than rainbows (for example).


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### Answer by username_6 on 2015-10-27. Score: 6

Clouds are obviously not completely opaque, and what you are seeing is a break in the clouds. It is of course possible for the clouds to cover the moon, however, often the moon can shine brightly through the clouds and illuminate the clouds in some nice way.

This video might help in a visual way: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLd_yhIWE48>


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### Answer by username_4 on 2024-07-15. Score: -3

Then I'll try try again sir.The sky is cloudy but the moon is visible with our naked eyes.Why it is appeared in so cloudy night sky.Because the moon is it in rotation curve or orbital path.The frequency of the light of the moon is more than the breaking clouds motion.The moon have been appeared due to thin condensation of clouds over the sky.Besides stars are dim light to diffraction of the moon light in a cloudy night sky.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: What does "The frequency of the light of the moon is more than the breaking clouds motion" mean? That makes no sense at all.  
> **username_4**: O.k,Sir I meant to say about the electromagnetic wave of the moon upon the collisiision of clouds burst.  
> **username_8**: You can edit the answer itself with the clarification(s). Doing so is very much encouraged by how this site works. That said, I'm afraid I don't understand quite either what you are trying to say.  

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