A parhelic circle is an unforgettable sight. Thin and pale, it circles the zenith in a majestic arc, always keeping the same distance above the horizon. Two days ago, R. J Cobain saw this one over Conlig, Northern Ireland:
"I was shaking as I took as many photos as I could," says Corbin. "By combining 11 photos I was able to capture the full circle."
This was part of a great display of ice halos widely seen and reported across Northern Ireland and Northern England on May 28th. A weather system blanketed the region with a rare mixture of gem-like ice crystals in wispy cirrus clouds. Sunlight shining through the crystals produced a stunning variety of forms.
A full parhelic circle is among the rarest of ice halos. It requires as many as five internal reflections from millions of individual ice crytals, all catching sunbeams simultaneously. "This was by far the best display of atmospheric optics I have ever seen," Corbin says.
more images: from Alan Fitzsimmons of Belfast, Northern Ireland; from Mike Devenport of Gateshead, UK; from Ian Lee of Carlisle, Cumbria, UK.
https://spaceweather.com/
This was part of a great display of ice halos widely seen and reported across Northern Ireland and Northern England on May 28th. A weather system blanketed the region with a rare mixture of gem-like ice crystals in wispy cirrus clouds. Sunlight shining through the crystals produced a stunning variety of forms.
A full parhelic circle is among the rarest of ice halos. It requires as many as five internal reflections from millions of individual ice crytals, all catching sunbeams simultaneously. "This was by far the best display of atmospheric optics I have ever seen," Corbin says.
more images: from Alan Fitzsimmons of Belfast, Northern Ireland; from Mike Devenport of Gateshead, UK; from Ian Lee of Carlisle, Cumbria, UK.
https://spaceweather.com/
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