images

Ice halos near Zeel am See, Austria

by

Alex Tudorica/Novapix

Reference

t-met03-80017

Date

2017-11-22

A light pillar is created by the reflection of light on the horizontal face of ice cristals. So, a quiet atmosphere is needed in order that this cristals stay parallel to the horizon. Lunar halos are caused by moonlight being refracted by cirro-stratus clouds. These thin clouds are located very high in the atmosphere, and are composed of ice crystals. They bend light at a 22 degree angle, which creates a halo that is 44 degrees in diameter.