{"id":34039,"date":"2023-01-13T01:04:36","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T01:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/telescopenights.com\/?p=34039"},"modified":"2023-01-13T01:04:45","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T01:04:45","slug":"sun-dogs-and-sun-halos-and-what-they-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/telescopenights.com\/sun-dogs-and-sun-halos-and-what-they-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Sun Dogs and Sun Halos And What They Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re curious about bright spots or rings appearing around the Sun<\/a> and wonder what they mean, you might be interested in the following. It’s what I found when I went searching for info on these not-so-common phenomena.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sun
What I saw above me<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The first time I saw a halo around the Sun was last spring while swimming at a beach. Being close to midday, the phenomenon was near to overhead and large. It was kind of freaky, or at least awe-inspiring. Like, something special was about to happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media was abuzz with locals curious. A few expressed how it might mean something unworldly or prophetic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what was it really and what did it mean? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is that halo around the Sun?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A halo around the Sun is an optical illusion! You’ll see these halos with the Moon<\/a> more often. To understand what causes this phenomenon, see my article on Moon Halos and Weather Prediction<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no actual ring around the Sun. Sunshine beaming through ice crystals suspended high up in our atmosphere produces the illusion. As I explained with the Moon halos, cirrus clouds create this effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s normal to see these in spring, according to a meteorologist in a comment I read, because the upper air is still chilled from winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it might depend on your location. This photo of a Sun halo was taken in India during May leading up to their monsoon season, which brings rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Banglore city witnessed today a rainbow ring around Sun. This phenomenon is called ‘22 degree Sun Halo’.
Such Sun or Moon halos are not so common however they have been witnessed earlier in the country in the past. #banglore<\/a> #sunhalo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JeLfHp7AE3<\/a><\/p>— Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) May 24, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>