What Is a Sun Halo?

Sun Halos, also referred to as 22º radius halos, are visible all over the world and throughout the year. Look out for them whenever the sky is wisped or hazed with thin cirrus clouds. These clouds are cold and contain ice crystals in even the hottest regions.

The halo is large. Stretch out the fingers of your hand at arm’s length. The tips of the thumb and little finger then subtend roughly 20°. Place your thumb over the sun and the halo will be near the little fingertip.

The halo is always the same diameter regardless of its position in the sky. Sometimes only parts of the complete circle are visible. Much smaller colored rings around the sun or moon are a corona produced by water droplets rather than ice crystals.

Does it foretell of rain? Not necessarily. High cirrostratus cloud forms the halo and this same cloud can be on the advancing edge of a warm front with its associated heavy rain. If a wind stirs from the southwest, the sky becomes hazy, a halo forms around the sun which are then dimmed and finally obscured by an increasingly thick cloud then rain is likely within a few hours. But very many halos are not associated with frontal systems and to see one is not at all a reliable sign of wet weather.

When looking for halos always shield both eyes from the sun. Never stare close to it even for a moment. Preferably, hide the sun behind the edge of a building or post. Take care when photographing halos if the unshielded sun is in the field of view. It is dangerous to look at the sun through some camera viewfinders, especially SLRs – do not take risks!

–Story Image: Diane Ebert