Alta Ski Resort Halo Display

December 23, 2016

AltaHaloComplex_IMG_0214 (1)

Photographer: Aaron London
Summary Authors: Aaron London; Jim Foster

This dazzling halo display was captured at the Alta Ski Resort in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Featured prominently here is a nearly complete 22 degree halo, an upper tangent arc (top) and a parhelic circle (at center, and same elevation as the Sun) all created by fine ice crystals suspended in the air. In this case, the crystals are manmade -- from snow guns used to augment the natural snowpack. If holiday plans take you to a ski resort and the Sun is shining when snow is being made, look for arcs and halos such as these. Photo taken on November 23, 2016.

Photo Details: Camera Maker: Apple; Camera Model: iPhone 6s; Focal Length: 4.2mm (35mm equivalent: 29mm); Aperture: ƒ/2.2; Exposure Time: 0.0001 s (1/9615); ISO equiv: 25.