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Credit & Copyright: Radoslav
Zboran
Explanation:
Earth's
orbit around the Sun
is not a circle, it's an ellipse.
The point along its elliptical orbit where our fair planet is
closest
to the Sun
is called perihelion.
This year, perihelion was on January 2 at 01:00 UTC, with
the Earth about 3 million miles
closer to the Sun than it was at aphelion (last July 6),
the farthest point in its elliptical orbit.
Of course, distance from the Sun
doesn't
determine the seasons,
and it doesn't the determine size of Sun halos.
Easier to see
with the Sun hidden behind a tall tree trunk,
this beautiful ice halo forms a 22 degree-wide
circle around the Sun,
recorded while strolling through the countryside
near Heroldstatt, Germany.
The Sun halo's 22 degree angular diameter is
determined by the six-sided
geometry
of water ice crystals
drifting high in planet Earth's atmosphere.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Sun - halo
Publications with words: Sun - halo
See also:
- APOD: 2024 February 19 Á Looking Sideways from the Parker Solar Probe
- APOD: 2023 December 20 Á Ice Halos over Bavaria
- APOD: 2023 December 11 Á Solar Minimum versus Solar Maximum
- APOD: 2023 November 19 Á Space Station, Solar Prominences, Sun
- APOD: 2023 October 25 Á Gone in 60 Seconds: A Green Flash Sunset
- Circular Sun Halo
- APOD: 2023 August 1 Á Monster Solar Prominence