Halos are a natural phenomenon that can be seen in the sky, and Jasmine and Chrissy from NIU STEAM are here to explain how they form. These halos are caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere, which depend on various conditions such as temperature, humidity, and cloud presence.
When water droplets in the atmosphere come into contact with tiny particles in the air, they freeze into ice crystals. Cirrus clouds, found at high altitudes, are a great source of these tiny particles. When light from the Sun or Moon passes through these crystals, it can be reflected, refracted, or dispersed, creating different light patterns like the 22-degree halo.
During sunrise or sunset, a special phenomenon called parhelia can occur. This creates one or two bright patches of light within the solar halo on either side of the Sun. These are commonly known as “sun dogs” because they follow beside the Sun like a dog walking with its human. Sun dogs are more likely to occur during sunrise or sunset because the light from the Sun passes through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere and interacts more with ice crystals.
So if you see a halo around the Moon at night or a colorful display of light during sunrise or sunset, remember that it’s all thanks to fascinating science! Tune in to Sound of Science on WNIJ every day to learn something new about our world.
