If it is about phenomena of reflection and refraction of light, the atmosphere is the laboratory par excellence, different intriguing phenomena such as , but there is one in particular that attracts attention because it has been associated with omens, it is the halo. around the sun or moon that appears in a perfect circular manner.
It is possible that at some point in your life you have had to look up at the sky and see that the sun or the moon are surrounded by a strange rainbow-colored circle. This phenomenon is known as the ’22-degree halo’ and gets its name because most of the time the radius of the circle is almost always 22 degrees.
Why does a halo form around the sun?
Although it seems like a mystical phenomenon and has been associated with bad omens, it is actually an event that science can explain very well. As we well know, the atmosphere is a complex structure of different levels where each of them is predominantly made up of different compounds.
At the lowest level of all the layers of the atmosphere is where the so-called cirrus clouds form, which are nothing more than vaporous clouds characterized by their fine, thin strands. That is to say, it is not about , but about fine p that retains its light blue color.
The main characteristic of cirrus clouds is that they are composed of ice crystals that rise above 6 kilometers in height. And although they seem harmless, because after all they allow you to see the clear sky, you have to be careful with them since after the appearance of high cirrus clouds, there is usually .
Therefore, when a cirrus crosses between us and the light that reaches us from either the sun or the moon, the millions of crystals that make it up tend to refract and reflect the light, breaking it down into all its colors. The most interesting thing is that the halos are personal, because the crystals must be oriented and placed exactly with respect to the eye that observes them, no one will see a halo the same as the one you see. The same thing happens with rainbows, they depend on the exact position of the observer and will never be the same for other observers, even if they are right next to them.
Halo around the moon
It is more common to observe halos around the sun, as this is when the light is at its maximum splendor, but from time to time they can also appear surrounding the moon. The difference is that due to lighting conditions, lunar halos are usually monochromatic. The colors seen in a solar halo often do not appear in moles, which only appear as white or if you are very lucky, you will see a faint red or blue.
If by serendipity you manage to see a halo, the recommendation is to be careful when observing it if it is a solar one. Remember not to look directly into the sun as this could be dangerous. The same goes for cameras, so if you want to photograph one of them, be careful or your device could be damaged. But if you encounter a lunar halo along the way, enjoy it to the fullest.