Go Back   Wildlife and Environment Forums > British Wildlife > UK Weather

Reply

 

LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 12:33 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Rainbow Around The Sun

Just had a look at the Sun and theres a Rainbow around it, I've never seen anything like it in my life, anyone know what causes it? We've had no rain and anyway I always thought that a Rainbow follows the curvature of the Earth and not around the Sun.

Anyone else see it?

(Not sure if this should be in the Astronomy forum)

Last edited by Stewy; 22-05-2007 at 12:35 PM. Reason: spelling
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 12:44 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

It'a a Halo apparently
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 12:46 PM
galanthus's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mid Glamorgan South Wales
Posts: 2,073
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

halo halo what's all that about then ? soz
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 12:57 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Oh Dear
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 01:04 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Not currently visible from where I am. Rainbow effects round the sun are caused by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere refracting sunlight. Was the rainbow near the sun, or a fair way away?

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 01:09 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Hi Henrya, It's a fair way away, I can still see it but it's a bit more faint now.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 01:17 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Actually I would say it's quite nearish
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 01:36 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Be careful about looking towards the sun, but stand with your arm outstretched and your thumb and little finger as widely stretched as you can. If you put you thumb next to the sun, if the tip of your little finger is about where the halo is, then that's 22 degree halo or parhelic circle. Do be careful looking towads the sun. Hope the neighbours don't think you are mad!

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 01:58 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

They don't think it Henrya, they know it

Yup it's a 22 degree Halo, It's very faint at the minute and can only see a little bit of it, do they last long?

Thanks Henrya

Stew
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 02:24 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stewy View Post
They don't think it Henrya, they know it

Yup it's a 22 degree Halo, It's very faint at the minute and can only see a little bit of it, do they last long?

Thanks Henrya

Stew
How long it last depends on the ice crystals - they may move horizontally in wind, or up or down depending on convection currents. Some haloes can last a couple of hours, I think. Must look this up. Some are very fleeting - a few seconds.

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 22-05-2007, 02:34 PM
Stewy's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,296
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

It's about gone now, can just about make out a tiny,tiny bit of it.

Thanks Henrya, most informative

Stew
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 13-06-2007, 06:36 PM
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

I never Heard about the rainbow without rain or in direct sun side. It is rare ..or not possible

The scientific reason behind it is that after rain a few drops of rain hanged in the surface and when light passes through these tiny drops it works like prism (which convert light in 7 colours) and we see the rainbow. It occurs mostly after the rain if you keep your back towards the sun you can see rainbow in front of you.


Jack Leighton

loan till payday
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 13-06-2007, 09:00 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Quote
I never Heard about the rainbow without rain or in direct sun side. It is rare ..or not possible
Endquote

Actually ice crystal haloes round the sun are reasonably common - it's just that most of us don't look up enough to notice them

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 13-06-2007, 11:38 PM
Active Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 25
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Well, you learn something new everyday! Never heard about this before, but then I am not in the habit of looking at the sun, unless it is close to sunset, but then not always by choice, lol!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 19-06-2007, 08:41 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Saw a partial 22 degree halo round the sun this afternoon - in thickish high cloud, The rainbow colours were not very distinct.

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 03-07-2007, 09:08 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Yes, Sam, that looks like a 22 degree halo. Much more complete than the one I saw on 19 June.

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #17 (permalink)  
Old 16-07-2007, 12:29 AM
Reptilian's Avatar
Wild Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Quay, Ceredigion, W.Wales.
Posts: 167
Send a message via MSN to Reptilian Send a message via Yahoo to Reptilian
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

I saw this one in Jersey last week, not very complete but it was still pretty.

__________________
A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #18 (permalink)  
Old 16-07-2007, 12:32 AM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Lovely picture!

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #19 (permalink)  
Old 16-07-2007, 12:50 AM
Garden Carpet's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,213
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Lovely signature
__________________
too many books... not enough money!!!!!!!!!!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #20 (permalink)  
Old 16-07-2007, 11:31 AM
Billy Wobble Dagger's Avatar
Officer of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Andover
Posts: 994
Blog Entries: 5
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

We saw a halo around the sun on Saturday afternoon. First time I've seen one.

BWD
__________________
sdrawkcab backwards is backwards
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #21 (permalink)  
Old 19-07-2007, 07:37 AM
Active Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 41
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

There's lots of info about halos on Atmospheric halos
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #22 (permalink)  
Old 26-07-2007, 08:32 PM
Amiguru's Avatar
Member of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Posts: 270
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay77 View Post
There's lots of info about halos on Atmospheric halos
Thanks for the link Jay77, could be useful when teaching science
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #23 (permalink)  
Old 27-07-2007, 01:13 PM
wellies101's Avatar
Wild Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: South Croydon
Posts: 124
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

I now know what they are and how they are formed! I saw one about 2/3 months ago and thought nothing of it. My sunglasses are polarised and when viewing it through those it was a lot clearer to see (probably safer too).
__________________
Regards
James
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #24 (permalink)  
Old 27-07-2007, 07:42 PM
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 17
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Are these what are known as sun dogs?
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #25 (permalink)  
Old 27-07-2007, 08:22 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,150
Re: Rainbow Around The Sun

Sundogs are part of the halo range of phenomena. Sun dogs are small sections of the complete halo usually appearing at three o clock and nine o clock positions. Sometimes they show rainbow colours, sometimes just as white 'blobs'.

henrya
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

» WAB Development Posts

No Threads to Display.

» New Wildlife Posts

Go to first new post What's Your Weather Like...
Last post by seamusagleann
Today 12:43 AM
2,706 Replies, 27,491 Views
Go to first new post amazing starlings
Last post by Picidae
Today 12:36 AM
3 Replies, 40 Views
Go to first new post Badger photos needed
Last post by Words
Today 12:30 AM
2 Replies, 24 Views
Go to first new post Bombus ruderatus?
Last post by