© Mark McCaughrean

Germany

Latitude: 48° 18' 36'' N

Longitude: 9° 29' 24'' E

24 October 2012 1642 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards WSW

Image P/S code: S.13.1.1

Image I.D.: 4128

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  Sub-horizon halos

  The high vantage point of a flight from Munich, Germany to Paris, France allowed this view of parhelia together with subparhelia and a subsun.

  The arc surrounding the Sun with a radius of 22° is the small halo. The small halo is one of the most frequently observed halo phenomena. On the right and left sides of the small halo, at the same elevation as the Sun, are bright coloured spots known as parhelia, or mock suns. Extending horizontally away from each parhelion are parts of the parhelic circle. The parhelic circle is a white circle that stands parallel to the horizon and passes through the Sun.

  Vertically below the Sun is the bright reflection halo that is the subsun, or undersun. The subsun is below the horizon and so is only seen from high vantage points, such as from aircraft or mountains. To the right and left of the subsun and vertically below the parhelia are corresponding subparhelia. Extending away from these are very faint parts of the subparhelic circle.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Mark McCaughrean
  Germany
  Latitude: 48° 18' 36'' N
  Longitude: 9° 29' 24'' E
  24 October 2012 1642 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards WSW
  Image P/S code: S.13.1.1
  Image I.D.: 4128