iN PHOTOS: Sun halo appears in clear blue skies in Kamloops region

Residents in the Kamloops area were treated to a halo around the sun on a blue-sky day in early March, and some shutterbugs were able to get stunning captures of the uncommon atmospheric event. Much like sun dogs, halos are the result of ice crystal formations, and while all ice crystals are hexagonal, when the crystals are shaped like small columns or plates, halos can form.  Halos are the result of the bending of sunlight or moonlight by thin, icy cirrus clouds at altitudes about 20,000 where the air temperatures are always below freezing all year round, according to the The Old Farmers Almanac. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/sun-halo-dog-pillar-meaning-causes The halo that is most common makes a 22-degree circle around the sun or moon and is brightest on the top and bottom. A halo was surrounding the sun on a bright sunny day in the Kamloops area on March 2, and local photographers were able to capture stunning photographs.  Sun dogs are less common and consist of bright spots on one or both sides of the halo that can be colourful, and other effects like arcs can appear. Sun dogs are best seen when the sun is near the horizon. If you awesome sky photos to share, send them to news@infonews.ca.  mailto:news@infonews.ca   To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .