Sun Rainbow

angel · #1 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 12:06 PM

hi,,,anyone ever seen a rainbow around the sun,,,angel

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 12:30 PM

Hello angel. A warm welcome from me.Nice to have new members joining.
Think your rainbow is called a halo and can be seen around the sun and the moon. Country lore says that a halo around the moon means rain before morning...apparently.
Looking forward to more posts from you. WW

Ollie · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 12:39 PM

Hello angel, can't say as I have ever seen anything like your rainbow before. Wouldn't be any chance today where I am it's a miserable wet day today in Lincolnshire. Welcome to WAB and I look forward to seeing more posts from you.
Ollie

angel · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 12:52 PM

thanx for that wildwoman,,,my son actually spotted it whilst we were in the meadows,,,a park between the canal and the river tavy in tavistock where we live,,,i didn't have my camera with me at the time,,,but as soon as we got home i took a few pix of it,,,downloaded them,,,joined,,,and posted the message and pic,,,thanx again,,,angel

angel · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 12:53 PM

thanx for your reply too ollie,,,must admit we didn't expect an answer to the post so quickly,,,we used to live in lincoln ourselves,,,moved down to tavistock for the warmer weather,,,and it certainly is warm today,,,angel

Alan · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 02:17 PM

I hope you didn't blind yourself photogaphing the sun andgel! Be careful when doing this kind of thing.

angel · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2006, 10:42 PM

thanx for your concern alan,,,but i was not only wearing glasses,,,my camera also has a really strong filter,,,and no i didn't blind myself,,,angel

henrya · #8 (**permalink**) 08-05-2006, 09:14 AM

I've not seen such a good one, but if you keep your eyes on the sky you may see similar effects more often than you'd expect. Caused by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. This was probably a 22 degree circle, though it's is hard to judge without knowing the focal length of the lens. Best to try and hide the sun behind something (traffic sign, house chimney etc) when you photograph these to avoid risk of damage to your eyes and the camera sensor.

henrya

Tamworth Weather · #9 (**permalink**) 08-05-2006, 01:36 PM

Good tip henrya and a nice halo photo angel - welcome to WAB. A friend of mine captured a halo last thursday Sun Halo

henrya · #10 (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 09:58 AM

Had a read last night - this is 99% certain a 22 degree halo - much the commonest. When you see things like this, look all around the sky for other odd effects. Some will appear on the opposite side of the sky to the sun.

This is a refraction effect caused by the sun's rays passing through pencil shaped ice crystals. Halos round the moon are generally smaller and apparently caused by diffraction effects through water droplets, but I must admit I still don't quite understand how they are formed.

henrya