photo #7566945

A solar halo is an optical phenomenon that appears as a ring of light around the Sun. It occurs when sunlight passes through ice crystals suspended in the Earth's atmosphere, usually in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. The light is refracted, or bent, by the ice crystals, creating a circle of light, typically 22 degrees away from the Sun. Solar halos can vary in brightness and color, with the inner edge of the ring often having a reddish hue, while the outer edge may appear bluish. They are more common in colder regions, but can be seen anywhere, provided the atmospheric conditions are right. The halo effect is a result of the specific shape and orientation of the ice crystals, which act like prisms...