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.

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 is seen around the sun over Kamloops on March. 2. iNFOnews.ca/ Karen Allen Reimer

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. 

A sun halo shines over the Thompson River west of Savona. iNFOnews.ca/ Jeff Cameron

A sun halo appears in clear skies over Kamloops. iNFOnews.ca/ Taylor Borth

This sun halo was seen in the Savona area. iNFOnews.ca/ Jeff Cameron