Telangana Witnesses Rare 22 Degree Circular Sun Halo

Sun Halo in Hyderabad: The Hyderabad city was in for a surprise during the noon hours of Wednesday on 2nd June, 2021, when a rare sun halo was observed. Also, it is known as "22 degree circular Halo". It is an unusual optical solar spectacle. This happens when the sun's or moon's rays get refracted/deflected though the hexagonal ice crystals in citrus cloud. This is also known as the Kaledoscopic Effect.

The sun is surrounded by rainbow ring, having both red and blue color displayed prominently. Many have come out of their houses and taken a photos of the sun, few enthusiasts also have taken selfie's, with sun as a background. The sun halo is an optical phenomenon, which is produced by



light interacting with suspended ice particle in atmosphere. It is a phenomenon that occurs in cold nations. It is rarely appears in the warm nations like India, he stated.

"The 22 degree circular halo can accompany both sun and the moon. When their rays are refraced through the hexagonal ice crystals in cirrus clouds". These clouds are generally formed when water vapour freezes into ice crystals at altitudes 5 to 10 kilometres above the earth's surface. Halo is not a rainbow, it is different, as the name suggests, the phenomenon occurs, when a circle having a radius having approximately 22 degrees forms around the sun. A similar phenomenon is believed to be common with moon, during the winter.