What's that ring around the Sun?

Solar phenomenon is fairly common

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The Sun has apparently decided to "accessorize" on Monday.

People all over South Florida have looked up and wondered why the Sun is showing off a strange ring.

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As cool as it is, the ring is actually a fairly common solar phenomenon that occurs when light from our favorite star is refracted through ice crystals in high cirrostratus clouds at a 22-degree angle.

The event is called a Solar Halo and can also occur in the evening with the Moon acting as the centerpiece of a Lunar Halo.

NASA says the best displays of these halos happen "in the fall, winter and spring when the northern jet stream descends southward, drawing down Arctic air masses with their treasure-trove of jewel-like ice prisms."

PHOTOS: Ring around the Sun


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.