The phenomenon occurs due to sunlight refracting in millions of hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, Director Meteorological Centre Bikram Singh said.
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What is Sun Halo?
A sun halo is a rare optic phenomenon, also called '22 degree halo', appears like a rainbow encircling the sun or moon at a radius of approximately 22 degrees.
How are the halos formed?
Produced by circus clouds -- usually thin, detached and hair-like structures -- the circular halos are formed at a height of over 20,000 feet.
What causes a sun halo to appear?
According to UK based Atmospheric Optics, when the light is reflected and refracted by ice crystals, and then split into colours, a halo formation is produced. These crystals behave like prisms and mirrors that reflect and refract light between their faces and send shafts of lights in a particular directions.
With PTI inputs.
