This stunning image of the moon surrounded by a celestial rainbow has been caught on camera by a dedicated photographer.
Alberto Ghizzi Panizza took hundreds of photos over a two hour period in order to capture the perfect shot of the rare phenomenon.
The lunar corona occurs when light reflecting off the moon's silvery surface is split by water particles or ice crystals in the air.
This creates a rainbow or halo effect around the moon.
The lunar corona feature several concentric, pastel-coloured rings and a central bright area called the aureole.
This is often the most visible part, and sometimes the only visible section of the spectacle.
The aureole is a bluish white and fades into a brown colour towards its outer edge and if visible, the rainbow colours surround this central feature.
Mr Panizza, 45, took the shot near his home town in the northern Italian city of Parma.
He said: "I have seen this phenomenon several times, but I had never been able to photograph it.
"This time, seeing it from home for the lockdown, I had with me all the necessary equipment to best capture this moment.
"Between 10pm and 12am I took a few hundred photos of the moon that created halos, iridescences and crowns among clouds and veils."
Mr Panizza is currently a professional photographer, Nikon Europa testimonial, Nikon School Master and ESO Photo Ambassador.
He has received more than forty national and international awards and constantly carries out workshops, courses, exhibitions and conferences all over the world.
