images

Solar Halo

by

J.Lodriguss/Novapix

Reference

t-met03-00001

Date

2007-01-18

Halos are caused by sunlight being refracted by cirro-stratus clouds. These are thin clouds, very high in the atmosphere, and are composed of ice crystals. They bend light at a 22 degree angle, which creates a halo around the sun that is 44 degrees in diameter. A parhelia is also visible.