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22° Circular Halo & Parhelia

These halos are visible all over the world--from the coldest arctic to the hottest jungle, at any time of the year. They are caused by three-to-five mile high cirrostratus clouds (haze). The ice crystals act as a hexagonal prism, forming a halo extending from 22° (radius) at the inner edge, to as much as 50°. The center of the ring is comparatively dark, because no light is refracted at lesser angles.

 

Parhelia (sundogs or mock suns) are typically formed when the sun is low in the sky. Horizontal plate crystals form parhelia as they drift slowly towards the earth--much like a leaf detached from a tree. Sundogs are formed at 22° or more from the sun--as much as 50°, depending on the sun's height.

 

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Uploaded on March 23, 2006
Taken on March 22, 2006