Halo Above Cap-Rouge, Quebec
July 01, 2013
Photographer: Philippe Moussette; Philippe’s Web site
Summary Authors: Philippe Moussette; Jim Foster
The photo above showing a classic 22 degree halo was captured over Cap-Rouge, Quebec on May 19, 2013. It was taken with a fisheye lens. Randomly oriented ice crystals in cirrus clouds are responsible for this common phenomenon – halos are observed more frequently than rainbows. They form when sunlight passing through the side face of pencil-shaped (hexagonal) ice crystals is refracted 22 degrees before exiting through an alternate side face.
Photo details: Canon 1DX camera; 8mm, 15mm fisheye lens.