J. H. Martineau's Account of the Celestial Phenomenon in Parowan

On December 14, 1855, residents of Parowan, Iron County, witnessed a remarkable celestial display consisting of a large circle around the moon with mock moons at the top and sides, a horizontal circle with bright spots, and a bright circle around the zenith, described by J. H. Martineau as a night that was still and peculiarly strange and brilliant.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 18, No. 21, 24 May 1856):

On the 14th December, the inhabitants of Parowan, Iron County, beheld quite a remarkable phenomenon in the heavens. There was a large circle around the moon, about 40 degrees in diameter, with three bright spots or mock moons at the top and sides. There was at the same time a complete horizontal circle, at an elevation of 22 degrees above the horizon, also having several bright spots, and another bright circle around the zenith, thus presenting a sky full of circles and mock moons. Elder J. H. Martineau, the narrator, describes the night of the occurrence as still and peculiarly strange and brilliant.