Tag Archives: halo around the sun

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Peggy Berryhill was up in the town of Mendocino when she saw this circle around the sun, which is called a Halo.

Marion Patterson took this photo at her home in Anchor Bay. The sun was behind the tree, but you can see most of the Halo. Notice that Marion's photo shows some color in the Halo.

The following is from the National Weather Service and explains the different between Halos, Sundogs and Sun Pillars.

"A Halo is a ring or light that forms around the sun or moon as the son or moon light refracts off ice crystals present in a thin veil of cirrus clouds. The Halo is usually seen as a bright, white ring although sometimes it can have color.

Sundogs are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction of light through Ice crystals. They are located approximately 22 degrees either left, right, or both, from the sun, depending on where the ice crystals are present. The colors usually go from red closest to the sun, out to blue on the outside of the Sundog. Sundogs are also known as mock sun or parhelia, which means "within the sun."

Sun Pillars appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun, most often at sunrise or sundown. They develop as a result of ice crystals slowly falling through the air, reflecting the sun's rays off of them. Look for Sun Pillars when the sun is low on the horizon, and cirrus clouds are present."

Thanks to Peggy and Marion for allowing me to share their photos with you here. And thanks to the National Weather Service for a great explanation on the differences between these phenomena.

Clouds are pouring in this afternoon after a sunny morning. Temps are around 60 degrees. A storm is headed our way for tonight. Bring it, Mother Nature!

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Eric Duff recently photographed the sky at Cooks Beach. He actually capture a  circumhorizontal arc, also sometimes called a fire rainbow, and a halo around the sun.

These are both formed because of ice crystals in the atmosphere. They refract and reflect the light. Very wonderful photo. Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share it with you here.

The fog pulled back and we are having a sunny, mild day on the coast. Much warmer weather for the holiday weekend.

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Alan Reinke noticed this amazing sight, a halo around the sun.

Alan photographed a Sun Dog, also called a mock sun. They are caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the air. Sun dogs are most likely to be seen when the sun is near the horizon, as it is in Alan’s photo.

Thanks to Alan for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We are at the tail end of a wild storm. We received 2.5 inches of much-needed rain. The remarkable thing is how cold the coast is.

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On June 3 a halo around the sun appeared close to noontime. Here's Paul Brewer's story: “I was at the Dolphin Gallery as the volunteer. Jacquie got a call from Sharron Peterson, owner of the Highlight Gallery in Mendocino, alerting her to the sun halo and asking that I try to get some photos. This shot is a panorama stitch of three photos. I thought this might be a little different than the other hundred you must be receiving.”

Halo around the sun by Paul Brewer

Paul's stitched-together photo shows the Gualala Hotel and the Pacific Ocean behind. It really shows the magnificence of this event.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.capturingnatureswonders.com

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On June 3rd a magnificent halo appeared around the sun. A friend pointed it out to me when I was in Gualala around noon. Several photographers recorded the event. Here's a photo taken by Shana Becerra.

Halo around the sun by Shana Becerra

A halo often is a predictor of rain. Another photo of this phenomenon will appear in the Independent Coast Observer in my Mendonoma Sightings column, which comes out today. It was taken by Paul Brewer and it's quite stunning.

Thanks to Shana for allowing me to share her photo with you here.