A paraselene is a bright spot on the halo of the
moon, sometimes appearing as large and bright as to be another mock
moon. In Wilson's picture above the paraselene is therefore the upwards
curved arc on the inner halo. It is another example of an optical phenomena
encountered not frequently, but neither rarely in Antarctica. June the
15th when this was observed and later painted is just a week away from
midwinter's day and is at a time of permanent 24 hour darkness.
Painting by Dr. E.A. Wilson -
In: "Scott's Last Expedition", 1913.
Robert Falcon Scott, Terra
Nova Expedition 1910 - 1913
Picture courtesy NOAA
