Solar Halo in La Palma in Winter (and Other Incredible Optical Phenomena): Brocken Spectre, Sundogs and Light Pillars In La Palma, the sky is not only enjoyed at night. In winter, the atmosphere can gift us spectacular light phenomena such as the 22° solar halo, the mysterious Brocken Spectre, and other optical effects that look like “magic”… but are actually pure physics.If you love astronomy, meteorology, or you are simply curious about the sky, this article is for you.And if you would like to learn how to observe (and photograph) these gifts from the sky, at La Palma Stars we have been doing exactly that for years with visitors from all over the world. What Is a 22° Solar Halo and Why Does It Appear in Winter? Sometimes winter brings a silent gift: a luminous ring around the Sun. That is a 22° solar halo. It is not a rainbow, not a camera filter, and not a strange phone effect. It is a real and very recognizable atmospheric phenomenon. How a Solar Halo Forms A halo forms when sunlight passes through ice crystals suspended in high-altitude clouds (usually cirrostratus clouds). These crystals are typically hexagonal and act like tiny prisms. The light is refracted (bent) as it passes through them, and due to geometry, the ring appears at a “typical” radius of 22 degrees from the Sun. How to Recognize It (No Instruments Needed) You see a circle (sometimes complete, sometimes partial) around the Sun. It appears at a constant distance: 22° (a fist at arm’s length equals about 10°, so it’s a little more than two fists). The inner edge may appear slightly reddish. The sky often looks “milky” due to thin high clouds. Besides being beautiful, it can also be a weather clue: the presence of cirrostratus clouds
Solar Halo in La Palma in Winter (and Other Incredible Optical Phenomena): Brocken Spectre, Sundogs and Light Pillars In La Palma, the sky is not only enjoyed at night. In winter, the atmosphere can gift
