Circular Halo
Among the best known halo types are the circular halo (properly called the 22° halo), light pillars, and sun dogs (in photo: one to the left of the sun) – some of the many more are fairly common, others (extremely) rare – the ice crystals that cause the 22° halo, often just called "halo", appearing as a large ring around the Sun or Moon with a radius of about 22° (roughly the width of an outstretched hand at arm's length), are oriented semi-randomly in the atmosphere, in contrast to the horizontal orientation required for some other halos such as sun dogs & light pillars: as a result of the optical properties of the ice crystals involved, no light is reflected towards the inside of the ring, leaving the sky noticeably darker than the sky around it, and giving it the impression of a "hole in the sky"; the 22° halo is not to be confused with the corona, a different optical phenomenon caused by water droplets rather than ice crystals, and appearing as a multicolored disk rather than a ring
To all who visit and view, and – especially – express support and satisfaction: you are much appreciated!
__________________________________
Fort Mill, SC – 2017NOV18 – Solar Halos
High thin cirrus clouds drifting above our heads produced ice halos displaying a range of atmospheric and meteorological optics from the familiar circle around the sun [or moon] – also this rare and prized event: the sky webbed by intricate arcs – plus a sun dog!
I got out my handy cell phone for some (fuzzy) captures!
Hope you enjoy the 46% of 13 photos I took here this day!
Circular Halo
Among the best known halo types are the circular halo (properly called the 22° halo), light pillars, and sun dogs (in photo: one to the left of the sun) – some of the many more are fairly common, others (extremely) rare – the ice crystals that cause the 22° halo, often just called "halo", appearing as a large ring around the Sun or Moon with a radius of about 22° (roughly the width of an outstretched hand at arm's length), are oriented semi-randomly in the atmosphere, in contrast to the horizontal orientation required for some other halos such as sun dogs & light pillars: as a result of the optical properties of the ice crystals involved, no light is reflected towards the inside of the ring, leaving the sky noticeably darker than the sky around it, and giving it the impression of a "hole in the sky"; the 22° halo is not to be confused with the corona, a different optical phenomenon caused by water droplets rather than ice crystals, and appearing as a multicolored disk rather than a ring
To all who visit and view, and – especially – express support and satisfaction: you are much appreciated!
__________________________________
Fort Mill, SC – 2017NOV18 – Solar Halos
High thin cirrus clouds drifting above our heads produced ice halos displaying a range of atmospheric and meteorological optics from the familiar circle around the sun [or moon] – also this rare and prized event: the sky webbed by intricate arcs – plus a sun dog!
I got out my handy cell phone for some (fuzzy) captures!
Hope you enjoy the 46% of 13 photos I took here this day!