22 degree halo x 2/3?

[Dodd]

Here's a 22 degree halo with a couple of twists that I cannot find an answer to. Note that the "main" halo around the sun seems to be a double. Also note the separate -- and seemingly larger than 22 degrees and without the rainbow effect -- halo to the right of the main one. Thoughts?

The shot was taken on 3.21.14 around 1 pm in Columbus, GA, USA.

[BMAONE23]

Here is an interesting WIKI article on Solar Halo Phenomena

[geckzilla]

I think Dodd knows what this halo is, B. The point is that it's oddly distorted. Personally, I'm having trouble understanding how distorted it actually was in the sky versus what the photographic panorama did to it.

[Dodd]

Thanks for the replies. Please check out my edit of the original post. I added a non-panoramic photo that might help with perspective. Thoughts?

[geckzilla]

I think that faint one might just be a cloud which happens to look arc-like. It looks something like a parahelic arc but doesn't match up. If you haven't already, check out frequent halos and infrequent arcs.

[geckzilla]

Oh, maybe it is a parahelic circle. I was unaware that the size shrinks when the sun is high. How does this look to you? http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/pchigh.htm

[Dodd]

Parhelic arc! That has to be it! Thanks, G!

I edited the original post and added one more shot that shows double 22 degree halo a little better. I wonder if there are two separate layers of ice crystals?

APOD is the best!

[geckzilla]

Running HaloSim, it predicts the same shape will appear when the sun is about 60 degrees above the horizon. So, nothing unusual to report, here.