Today's Image

Sun halo over South Pole

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December 29, 2015

Photo by Hunter Davis. T see more photos like this, Visit his website. — Photo taken at the South Pole, Antarctica, by Hunter Davis. Canon 60d, 10mm lens. To see more photos like this, visit his website.

Hunter Davis submitted this image to EarthSky. It’s a halo around the sun – caused by ice crystals in high thin cirrus clouds in Earth’s atmosphere – visible over Earth’s South Pole on December 18, 2015.

Hunter said he got this shot around 1 a.m. That’s right. Around the time of the December solstice, when the sun is at its southernmost point in Earth’s sky – the South Pole is in daylight 24 hours a day.

He also said it was around -20 Fahrenheit (around -30 Celsius) at the time!

Thank you, Hunter.

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December 29, 2015

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Deborah Byrd

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Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.