What is the glow around the moon called? Halo in the sky as a natural phenomenon - description, forms and photos
Recently, there have been a large number of reports of Halos, False or Second Suns, Light or Solar Columns, which are sometimes mistaken for the “Northern Lights”. Many people have observed these beautiful natural phenomena themselves. What does science say about this phenomenon?
A halo is the refraction and reflection of light in the ice crystals of the upper clouds; represent light or rainbow circles around the Sun or Moon (an example of a photograph of a lunar halo), separated from the luminary by a dark gap. Halos are often observed at the front of cyclones (in the cirrostratus clouds of their warm front) and can therefore serve as a sign of their approach.
As a rule, halos appear as circles with a radius of 22 or 46 °, the centers of which coincide with the center of the solar (or lunar) disk. The circles are faintly colored in rainbow colors (red inside). Halos are the surest sign of worsening weather.
From the book “Meteorology and Climatology” S.P. Khromov, M.A. Petrosyants: “In addition to the main halo forms, false suns are observed - slightly colored light spots on the same level with the Sun and at an angular distance from it also 22 or 46°. The main circles are sometimes joined by various tangent arcs. There are still unpainted vertical pillars passing through the solar disk, i.e., as if continuing it up and down, as well as an unpainted horizontal circle at the same level with the Sun.
Colored halos are explained by the refraction of light in the hexagonal prismatic crystals of ice clouds, uncolored (colorless) forms by the reflection of light from the faces of the crystals. The variety of halo shapes depends mainly on the types and movement of crystals, on the orientation of their axes in space, as well as on the height of the Sun. The 22° halo is caused by the refraction of light by the side faces of the crystals with a random orientation of their main axes in all directions. If the main axes have a predominantly vertical direction, then on both sides of the solar disk (also at a distance of 22°), instead of a light circle, two light spots appear - false suns. The halo at 46° (and false suns at 46°) is caused by the refraction of light between the side faces and bases of the prisms, i.e. with a refractive angle of 90°. The horizontal circle is caused by the reflection of light from the side faces of vertically located crystals, and the solar column is due to the reflection of light from crystals located predominantly horizontally.
In thin water clouds consisting of small homogeneous drops (usually altocumulus clouds) and covering the disk of the luminary, crown phenomena occur due to diffraction. Crowns also appear in fog near artificial light sources. The main, and often the only part of the crown is a light circle of small radius, closely surrounding the disk of the luminary (or an artificial light source). The circle is mainly bluish in color and only on the outer edge is reddish. It is also called a halo. It may be surrounded by one or more additional rings of the same, but lighter color, not adjacent to the circle and to each other. Halo radius 1-5°. It is inversely proportional to the diameters of the droplets in the cloud, so it can be used to determine the size of the droplets in the clouds. The crowns around small artificial light sources (compared to the disks of luminaries) have richer iridescent colors."
How can such extraordinary images be obtained in the air? What are the reasons for this interesting natural phenomenon? Studying the appearance of halos in the sky, scientists have long noticed that they occur when the Sun is covered with a white, shiny haze - a thin veil of high cirrus clouds. Such clouds float at an altitude of 6-8 kilometers above the ground and consist of tiny ice crystals, which most often have the shape of hexagonal columns or plates. Rising and falling in air currents, ice crystals, like a mirror, reflect or, like a prism, refract the sun's rays falling on them.
At the same time, reflected rays from some crystals can enter our eyes. Then we observe various forms of halo. Here is one of these forms: a light horizontal circle appears in the sky, encircling the sky parallel to the horizon. Scientists conducted special experiments and found that such a circle arises due to the reflection of sunlight from the side faces of ice hexagonal crystals floating in the air in a vertical position. The rays of the Sun fall on such a crystal, are reflected from it, like from a mirror, and fall into our eyes.
Refraction of light on ice crystals
But our eyes cannot detect the bending of light rays, so we see the reflected image of the Sun not where it actually is, but on a straight line coming from the eyes, and the image will be visible at the same height above the horizon as real Sun. This phenomenon is similar to how we see the image of an electric light bulb in a mirror at the same time as the electric light bulb itself. There are a lot of such vertically floating mirror crystals in the air. They all reflect the sun's rays.
The mirror images of the Sun that fall into our eyes from individual crystals merge, and we see a solid light circle parallel to the horizon. Or it happens like this: The sun has just gone below the horizon, and a light column suddenly appears in the dark evening sky. This play of light, as shown by special experiments, involves ice plates floating in the atmosphere in a horizontal position. The rays of the Sun, which has just gone beyond the horizon, fall on the oscillating lower edges of such plates, are reflected and fall into the eyes of the observer.
When there are many such crystals in the air, the mirror images of the Sun that come into our eyes from individual ice plates merge into one, and we see a stretched, distorted image of the solar disk beyond recognition - a luminous pillar appears in the sky. Against the background of the evening dawn, it sometimes has a reddish color. Each of us has encountered a phenomenon similar to this more than once. Remember the solar or lunar “path” on the water. Here we see exactly the same distorted reflection of the Sun or Moon, only the role of a mirror is played not by ice crystals, but by the surface of the water. Have you ever seen a light rainbow circle surrounding the Sun?
This is also one of the forms of halo. It has been established that this halo is formed in cases where there are many hexagonal ice crystals in the air that refract the sun's rays like a glass prism. We do not see most of these refracted rays; they are scattered in the air. But some crystals also send directed rays into our eyes. Such crystals are located in the sky in a circle around the Sun. They all seem illuminated to us, and in this place we see a light circle, slightly colored in rainbow tones. We do not always see one or another form of halo in full in the sky. For example, in winter, when there is severe frost, two spots of light appear on both sides of the Sun. These are parts of the halo circle. In another case, only the upper part of such a circle is visible - above the Sun.
In the past, it was often mistaken for a luminous crown. The same thing happens with a horizontal circle passing through the Sun. Most often, only that part of it that is adjacent to the Sun is visible; then we see in the sky, as it were, two light tails stretching to the right and left of the Sun. It is not difficult to understand how luminous crosses appear in the air. From the Sun, which is low on the horizon or has already gone beyond the horizon, a long luminous pillar stretches upward. This pillar intersects with the part of the halo circle visible above the Sun, and a large luminous cross appears in the sky. Two crosses may appear. This happens when the vertical parts of the halo circle and parts of the horizontal circle adjacent to the Sun are visible in the sky; intersecting, they give two crosses on either side of the Sun. In other cases, instead of crosses, only luminous spots are visible, similar in size to the Sun.
They are called false suns. This type of halo is usually observed when the Sun is low above the horizon. Specially conducted experiments show that the formation of false suns involves hexagonal crystals, which float in the air not randomly, but so that their axes are located predominantly vertically. In the northern regions, where haloes are generally observed much more often, false suns can be seen dozens of times a year. They are often so bright that they are as bright as the Sun itself.
This is how science explains the diverse, mysterious phenomena of the halo, but does not explain the fact why the phenomenon previously considered rare, has now become commonplace and ubiquitous.
Solar halos of various types are observed throughout the year, including hottest summer months and the number of halo observations began to increase from 2011 to an increasing increase in 2012. Why?
Halo Examples
"Classic" circular halo
![](https://i2.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image006.jpg)
Multiple Circular Rainbow Halo
![](https://i2.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image008.jpg)
Horizontal double Pagrelium
![](https://i0.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image010.jpg)
Single horizontal Pangrelium
![](https://i0.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image012.jpg)
Solar pillar in frosty weather
![](https://i0.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image014.jpg)
Light poles in frosty weather
![](https://i0.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image016.jpg)
Sun pillar over the sea
![](https://i0.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image018.jpg)
Light pillars “torn off” from the light source and creating the illusion of the “Northern Lights”
![](https://i2.wp.com/earth-chronicles.ru/Publications/92/1/image019.jpg)
Seeing a rainbow, most of us smile and remember our childhood when this natural phenomenon was seen for the first time.
There are many signs associated with the rainbow, but the multi-colored arc closing around the sun looks especially unusual and mystical. In science, this phenomenon is called a halo.
There are many types of halos, but all are caused by ice crystals in cirrus clouds. The appearance of the halo depends on their shape and location. The light that is reflected and refracted by ice crystals is often decomposed into a spectrum, which causes the halo to resemble a rainbow. The halo that forms around the moon has no color, because it is simply impossible to distinguish it at dusk. This phenomenon is recorded in any weather, and in frosty conditions the crystals are located very close to the surface of the earth and resemble shining precious stones, the so-called diamond dust.
The lower part of the halo can be seen against the background of the surrounding landscape if the main luminary is located low above the horizon. However, halos are not the same as crowns. The latest natural phenomenon is associated with the formation of light, foggy rings in the sky around the Sun or Moon.
What does a rainbow around the sun mean?
Those lucky enough to see this rare phenomenon should expect all the best - prosperity, prosperity, luck and love.
If before this there was not the easiest period in life, then it will definitely end and everything will work out in the best possible way. If there are such signs associated with a circular rainbow around the sun:
- if crowns appeared before the halo, then you should wait for the weather to worsen and vice versa;
- If in winter white crowns of large diameter appear around the sun along with pillars near the luminary, the so-called false suns, then frosty weather will continue.
There are a lot of historical facts related to the halo, when this natural phenomenon helped those who saw it in some matters or, on the contrary, was interpreted as a bad sign.
In particular, the “Tale of Igor’s Campaign” says that the army was finally defeated when four Suns appeared in the sky. Ivan the Terrible regarded the natural phenomenon he saw as an omen of imminent death.
There are a lot of signs about halo
This belief is quite interesting: a pregnant woman who takes a sip of water from the river where the rainbow originates can make a wish for the gender of her child. True, this applies only to those women who already have three daughters or three sons.
- A summer rainbow always evokes warm and joyful feelings in people. And the signs associated with it usually concern something good. But many people don’t believe in the winter rainbow, thinking......
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- Spathiphyllum is traditionally considered by florists and according to folk signs to be the flower of female happiness. There are many signs and superstitions associated with it, which you need to know about before spathiphyllum gets......
- This is truly true: a holy place is never empty. If a person has no one to believe in, he begins to believe in something. For example, the ability of plants to bring good or bad luck, to attract......
- Folk omens will tell you about everything: what day awaits you, what you should be afraid of, and even what qualities your betrothed will have. About the most......
- From time immemorial, people have treated birds as a special caste of animals. The fact is that birds can do what we have been dreaming about since the very beginning of human history -......
- Many peoples of the world consider rainbows to be a good omen. Rainbow Bridge to Heaven, an eternal covenant between people and God that the days of the flood are long past. The rainbow is compared to many......
- Croton (or in other words codiaum) is an evergreen, perennial ornamental plant from the Euphorbiaceae family. Not only does the croton flower have unique beauty, signs indicate its unique abilities and influence on......
light circles around the Moon, Sun
Alternative descriptionsOptical phenomenon in the atmosphere
A natural phenomenon thanks to which you can see “three” Suns at once
Light circles, arcs, pillars, spots observed around or near the disks of the Sun and Moon
Glowing ring around celestial bodies
Optical phenomenon
Light circles around the moon
Circles around the sun
Sun, circles
Circles around the Moon
False sun
Circles around the star
Optical phenomenon around the star
Halo around the sun
Lunar halo
Halo around the star
Lunar halo
. "halo" of the luminary
Lunar "rainbow"
. "corona" of the luminary
Solar halo
Halo around the Moon
Halo around the Sun
Rainbow rings around the moon
Atmospheric phenomenon
. "halo" of the luminary
Lunar halo to rhyme with lard
Solar or lunar halo
Circles, spots observed around or near the disks of the Sun or Moon
White or iridescent light circles observed around or near the disks of the Sun and Moon
. "Crown" luminary
. "Nimbus" luminary
. "Halo" of the luminary
. Northern Lights around the Moon
Circles around the Sun
Lunar "rainbow"
Lunar "halo"
Lunar halo in rhyme with pattern
Optical phenomenon around the star
A natural phenomenon thanks to which you can see “three” Suns at once
Wed. bent, a projectile for bending arches, rims and runners: a circle is cut out in solid beams or died as a furrow; the block, steamed in a steam oven, or underground, on which a large fire is laid out, is placed in the halo and wedged
The inhabitants of the Earth have observed the optical effect of a halo throughout history. In the Middle Ages, this unusually beautiful phenomenon was mistaken for the swords of angels (pillars and arcs) and for angel dust when the halo formed too close to the surface of the Earth, and its appearance resembled a scattering of precious stones. Today we will talk about the scientific origin of the halo effect and its varieties.
What is a "halo"?
Surely, everyone knows the case when information appeared on the Internet that three suns rose at once on the territory of Chelyabinsk. Recently, there has been a lot of information about the occurrence of the northern lights in areas and regions where such a phenomenon had not previously occurred. Also, many people talk about seeing a rainbow on a frosty winter day. Is it possible? Of course, many immediately began to discuss the coming end of the world, and the more superstitious started talking about the approaching Apocalypse! But all this is just fiction, all these unusual phenomena are called the “halo effect”.
The Sun or Moon can be the cause of this optical miracle, and it only happens in winter. A halo is simply the reflection of the rays of the Sun or Moon from ice crystals. These crystals are hexagonal in shape and light can pass through them in any direction, straight or oblique. Basically, the halo effect occurs at very high altitudes, in cirrostratus clouds. They form a warm cyclone, and therefore the appearance of a halo effect serves as a signal that warm weather is coming.
The difference between the halo effect and the “Solar crown”
A halo effect appears around the Sun or Moon in cold and humid weather. It represents a glow around these bodies and has a bright color. “Solar crowns,” in turn, are also a glow around the Sun, Moon, spotlights or street lamps that occurs under similar conditions, but it is still a hazy glow. These are different phenomena, although their origins are similar in nature, and they should not be confused.
What is the difference between a rainbow and a halo?
The halo effect, the photo of which you see in this article, is essentially a rainbow. But still not quite. Rainbows form on warm days and appear from the reflection of the sun's (and only the sun's) rays in drops of water. That is, during warm summer rain or immediately after it, we can observe a rainbow. This phenomenon consists of the entire spectrum of colors, and can only be seen by turning away from the sun in the opposite direction, that is, with your back to the luminary. The rainbow always appears in one place, and the red color is located on the outer (farthest from the horizon) line. The rainbow is always the same, since the water drops differ only in size, but in the atmosphere they behave exactly the same.
The halo effect is a completely different matter! Ice crystals not only vary in size and shape, but, unlike drops, they can move freely regardless of each other: float, fall down or rotate. Thanks to this, various phenomena arise - circles, arcs, pillars, the false Sun.
A halo, unlike a rainbow, appears around the star, and not in the opposite direction from it, and can appear at night. It has only two colors - red and orange, and the first is closer to the horizon, that is, on the inside. The remaining colors mix with each other and resemble a white glow. Of course, there are brighter and more spectacular halos consisting of all colors, but this phenomenon is extremely rare and is an amazing sight!
Solar halo: varieties
We examined the origin of the halo effect, understood what it is, and how it differs from the other two optical phenomena. All that remains is to understand its varieties.
The halo effect comes not only in different colors, but also in sizes and shapes. The most common phenomenon is located very close to the Sun or Moon, this is the so-called 22 0 halo. For the most part, it consists of two colors, red and orange, less often they are complemented by a white glow.
A rarer occurrence is the 46 0 halo. It is located further from the Sun and can be painted in all colors. The rarest halo effect takes up the entire sky. This phenomenon is rarely seen.
There is also a subhalo. Its origin is exactly the same as that of a halo, only it is located in the horizontal plane rather than in the vertical.
Halo effect after laser vision correction
Medicine does not stand still, and many people can once and for all forget about wearing glasses or contact lenses without surgery. Laser vision correction has become a very popular and virtually safe operation when performed by an experienced surgeon.
Some patients, after undergoing this correction, complain of light sensitivity or even unpleasant light glare in front of their eyes, most often in the dark. This side effect is called halo, or star formation. It can greatly complicate life - with such vision it is impossible to drive a car in the dark and at dusk, since all luminous objects (lanterns, lights of oncoming cars, etc.) become like balls of light from which rays emanate, and often the road itself bifurcates . At the same time, the vision itself can be sharp and completely normal. If such an effect appears, then there is a possibility that an error was made in the correction or it was carried out with old equipment. You should contact the clinic where you had the surgery to get rid of the halo.
How to observe a halo correctly?
People who notice an unusual glow in the sky, of course, strive to take a good look at it, but the halo effect is not so safe for the eyes. When observing this phenomenon, it is necessary to protect your vision to protect it from UV radiation. In order not to damage the retina when viewing a halo, you need to arm yourself with sunglasses or cover the luminary with some object, or even with your hand. The same method should be used when photographing the phenomenon, since the photos may turn out to be of poor quality and blurry.
Watching the halo is amazing! And if you managed to see a rare multi-colored phenomenon, it will remain in your memory for a long time.
How did the halo effect affect the course of history?
We have already said that the halo was previously perceived as something supernatural, and most often it was taken as not a good sign. So, this natural optical effect could significantly influence the entire history.
In 1551, Charles V, seeing the halo effect in the sky, refused to besiege Magdeburg. He considered this phenomenon a heavenly protection that protected the besieged and brought punishment to Karl if the siege continued.
The Tale of Igor's Campaign tells that the prince took the solar eclipse as a sign that would cover his troops with darkness, and went into battle. The Polovtsians began to defeat Igor’s army, and then four Suns rose. Again, Igor took this as a good sign for him and did not back down. As a result, all the Russians were killed, and Igor himself was captured.
There are many such examples, and there is no point in describing them all. All that remains to be said is that the halo effect does not pose any threat or omen, it is simply a beautiful natural phenomenon.
Observation of a halo can serve as a local weather indicator. Halos are always observed in cirrostratus clouds, which are usually part of the warm front cloud system. Therefore, the appearance of a halo indicates the approach of a warm front.
- What weather changes should we expect due to the passage of a warm front? First of all, the decrease and thickening of clouds and the fall of precipitation: rain, snow or sleet, depending on the time of year.
- In summer, in established sunny weather, the passage of a warm front, accompanied by low clouds and rain, is usually perceived as worsening weather.
- in winter, in established frosty weather, the appearance of a halo portends decrease in frost, warming due to the decrease and thickening of clouds and the transition to precipitation.
- Due to the fact that the crowns are formed on smaller cloud elements (drops or crystals) than the halo, the following conclusions can be drawn.
- If crowns were observed at first, then they disappeared and after some time a halo appeared, then this indicates the enlargement of cloud crystals and increasing the likelihood of precipitation.
- On the contrary, if crowns appear after the halo, it means that the elements of the cloud are evaporating and decreasing in size. Hence, the likelihood of precipitation decreases.
Source: book by Zverev S.V. In the world of sunlight.
The content of the folk signs presented below may not coincide with the opinion of the author.
Folk signs
- A halo is visible around the Sun or Moon - a sign of worsening weather.
- A ring around the Moon means wind (worsening weather).
- If the crowns appear earlier and then are replaced by a halo, then the weather may worsen.
- If the halo precedes the crowns, then this can be considered a sign of improving weather.
- If in winter white crowns of large diameter appear around the sun or moon, as well as pillars near the sun, or so-called false suns, then this is a sign of continued frosty weather.
- There is an interesting weather sign in the US state of New Hampshire.
If locals look at the sky at night and see a halo - a circle around the moon - they know a storm is coming soon. How many stars can be counted inside the halo - after so many days the storm will begin.
Sources: A. Leokum. The Curious Book. New American Library, NY, 1978, p.17
"Myths", erroneous assumptions about haloes, incorrect names
- call diamond dust a halo. Confusion of concepts
- With light pillars and halos are different phenomena. Light pillar is one of the types of halo
- fire rainbow- name of the near-horizontal arc
- winter rainbow is the name of the halo. It is believed that the halo is visible only in winter :). Just look at this site to be convinced of the opposite
- Quote: “as the Republican Hydrometeorological Center (Moldova) assured, halo rings are safe for humans.”
- Crosses in the sky
- At the intersection of the parhelic circle (its fragments on the sides of the sun) with a halo with a radius of 22 or 46°, crosses are formed
- The cross, in the center of which is the sun, appears when the pillars of light intersect with the parhelic circle.
- When crossing light pillars above/below the sun with 22 halo
Superstitions, historical facts related to halo, famous observations
Various halo phenomena have been observed in the sky for several thousand years. Arcs and pillars of light were called fire swords of angels, bloody swords, crosses (the intersection of the parhelium and the small halo, a pillar of light and the upper part of the small halo). In various archives you can find a lot of evidence of halo observations. I tried to collect the most interesting observations on this page.
A Word about Igor's Regiment
As soon as Prince Igor set out with his army on May 1, 1185, a solar eclipse occurred. “Then Igor looked at the bright sun and saw that it covered him with the darkness of the soldiers.” But the proud princes did not turn their horses. The first battle with the Polovtsians was victorious. And then they fought for another three days. The outnumbered Cumans began to overpower the Russians. And then four suns appeared in the sky. “Black clouds are coming from the sea, they want to cover four suns ... There will be great thunder...” The spirit of the soldiers fell, the Russian army was all killed, and Igor was captured.
Ivan groznyj
A story about how the Grand Duke of Moscow perceived what he saw in the sky: “... With a trembling hand, Tsar Ivan pulled back the curtain. He looked up at the sky with frightened eyes. His face was distorted with horror: in the sky, in the dark heights, he froze cruciform heavenly sign
...
Leaning on his staff, the king went out onto the Red Porch to observe the wondrous vision that the queen had just told him about.
For a long time he silently looked at the sky, dotted with a dense scattering of stars, and at this mysterious cross, vaguely visible in the heavenly depths, and suddenly, staggering from weakness... whispered:
- This is the sign of my death. Here it is..."
Napoleon
After the fall of Napoleon in France, they watched as bright spot , which reminded many of the emperor’s triangular hat. And people regarded this as a sign of his return from exile, from the island of St. Helena.
Lowitz
The St. Petersburg scientist T. Lovitz had a chance to see and describe an interesting and funny halo (one of the types of halo was later named after him).
On one summer day in 1790, he sketched the picture that opened before him:
two rainbow circles shone around the sun - one larger, the other smaller;
bright semi-arcs, similar to wide horns, adjoined them above and below.
The sun and rainbow circles were crossed by a white stripe, parallel to the horizon, encircling the sky. At the intersection of this stripe with a small rainbow circle, two false suns shone; their sides facing the sun were red, and from the opposite sides stretched long luminous tails. Three similar spots were visible against the sun - on the white stripe. The sixth, very bright spot glittered on a small rainbow circle above the sun. All this remained in the sky for about five hours.
Halo from the ancient Russian chronicle
“That same summer there was a sign in the Sun. Protect yourself from the sun like circles,” the Russian chronicle reported in 1224.
A miniature was also included with the entry. And the chronicler monk, it seems, himself witnessed the phenomenon. The drawing clearly shows the sun with “circles” and four crosses around it.
Note that there are dozens of images of this kind in the chronicles of different countries. if not hundreds.
“In 7293 (that is, in 1785) a sign appeared in the famous city of Yaroslavl, from the morning hours there was a middle circle until noon with three suns, and with them at noon the second circle appeared, In it there was a cross with a crown, and the sun was gloomy and under appeared in a large circle like a rainbow..."
Based on the description and picture, it can be assumed that the author observed a small halo with parhelia, then the upper and lower tangent arcs (crown) or Parry arcs appeared, light pillars that often look like crosshairs.
Six-winged seraph
Seraphim, from Hebrew - burning, luminous, flaming. In other meanings - burning, fiery. In the mythology of Judaism and Christianity, the name “seraphim” designated angels especially close to God. Probably their first and only description, from which numerous imitations came, is contained in the Book of the Old Testament of the prophet Isaiah:
“...each of them has six wings. Each covered his face with two. He covered his legs with two. Two - I flew..."
One of the seraphim cleanses the prophet's lips by touching them with a burning coal, which he takes with tongs from the altar. The geometry of the seraphim figure, depicted, for example, by Theophanes the Greek, is quite peculiar, but upon deep examination, it turns out to be similar to a complex halo, taken in its upper quarter (a light column, a small halo, an upper tangent arc, a large halo and a zenith arc).
The picture shows a fragment of a fresco by Theophan the Greek, 1378, Novgorod, Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyin.