Sun Halo | EarthSky

Sun halo with birds

Scientists call them 22-degree halos, because the shining ring around the sun (or moon) has a radius of approximately 22 degrees.

Sun halo over Zimbabwe

Scientists call them 22-degree halos, because their radius is approximately 22 degrees from the sun. This one was seen over Africa, whose mythology about sun halos matches North American skylore.

A sun halo, sundogs and more

Halos around the sun or moon aren't uncommon, but this is a really special one. Thanks to Martin Male, who captured it from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Sun halo with 2 contrail shadows

The sun is casting shadows of an aircraft contrail downwards onto thin cirrus haze layers below. Higher above, ice crystals in cirrus clouds have created a 22-degree halo around the sun.

Sun halo over snowy Cape Breton Island

Winter still lingers on Cape Breton Island, Canada. Photo by Kris Tynski.

Michigan sun halo

Walter Elliot captured this enormous sun halo over Grand Haven, Michigan on February 16, 2017.

Winter sun halo

Fiona M. Donnelly captured this beautiful sun halo on February 1, 2017 in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Sun halo and sun dogs

Rima Biswas in Baltimore, Maryland, captured the December sun with two sun dogs and a luminous halo.

Sun halo over South Pole

High, thin cirrus clouds create halos around the sun or moon. This one is over Antarctica, at a time when the sun is shining 24 hours a day.

Sun halo, Laredo

Angélica Guevara captured this sun halo on May 29 near Laredo, Texas.

Bangkok sun halo

A sun halo, taken by our friend NongNoo Phoorithewet yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sun halo over U.S. East Coast yesterday

A ring or circle of light around the sun or moon is called a halo by scientists. They're a sign of high thin cirrus clouds drifting above our heads.

Two sun halos seen over Canada yesterday

Here are two solar halos spotted over separate parts of Canada, at different times of day, yesterday.

Sun in a blue sky with a ring of light around it, and an outstretched finger blocking the sun itself.

What makes a halo around the sun or moon?

A halo around the sun or moon often appears as a glowing ring in the sky. It’s a stunning sight, but have you ever wondered what causes it?

Halo and sundogs over Montana

Ski resorts are the best places to see fine halo displays, like this one. Why so beautiful and why so sparkly? Details here.

Sun and moon halo

Composite image of a halo around the sun and, within 10 hours, a nearly full moon.

Halo around the sun over Normandy, France

We get many messages throughout each year from people who’ve just spotted a halo, or ring, around the sun or moon.

Halo around the sun

Solar halo seen in Indianapolis, Indiana by Jolynn Keutzer Bales. Thank you Jolynn!

Sun activity archive for April 2026

Sun activity archive for April 2026. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

Sun activity archive for March 2026

Sun activity archive for March 2026. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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Sun halo with birds

Sun halo over Zimbabwe

A sun halo, sundogs and more

Sun halo with 2 contrail shadows

Sun halo over snowy Cape Breton Island

Michigan sun halo

Winter sun halo

Sun halo and sun dogs

Sun halo over South Pole

Sun halo, Laredo

Bangkok sun halo

Sun halo over U.S. East Coast yesterday

Two sun halos seen over Canada yesterday

What makes a halo around the sun or moon?

Halo and sundogs over Montana

Sun and moon halo

Halo around the sun over Normandy, France

Halo around the sun

Sun activity archive for April 2026

Sun activity archive for March 2026