A driver captured scenes like out of a sci-fi movie when he accidentally encountered a stunning halo in the sky formed by the moonlight during freezing temperatures.

The motorist captured the rare optical phenomenon while driving across the snowy expanse of Inner Mongolia, northern China, where temperatures plummeted to -30 degrees Celsius on the night of November 28.

Footage shows a massive and bright halo formed around the full moon that lit up the vast, remote area.

Intrigued by the rare sight, he stopped by the roadside and trekked deeper into the snow, then ran around in excitement with the lunar wonder in the background.

He also demonstrated just how cold the weather was by splashing hot liquid in the air that immediately evaporated.

The China Weather Net later explained it was a rare atmospheric phenomenon, caused by moonlight refraction as it passes through high-altitude cloud layers and encounters ice crystals in the air.

China Weather Net added that the 'phantom lunar halo' could only occur when the moon is full and is at its brightest.