04/07/2025
A sun halo is an optical phenomenon that appears as a ring or circle of light surrounding the sun. It's caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds. These ice crystals act like tiny prisms, bending and scattering the sunlight to create the halo effect.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Formation: Sun halos are formed when sunlight passes through thin, high-altitude cirrus clouds containing hexagonal ice crystals.
Refraction: The ice crystals refract (bend) the sunlight, and the geometry of the crystals causes the light to be bent at a specific angle, typically around 22 degrees, creating the halo.
Color: While often appearing white, halos can sometimes display colors, similar to a rainbow, with red on the inside edge and blue on the outer edge.
Weather Indicator: In some cases, sun halos can be associated with approaching weather systems, particularly when cirrus clouds are involved.
(Source: Google)
