Halo display featuring parhelic circle (w-483-12)

In gallery: Photos of the month (2003)
Related photos: Atmospheric optics Ice crystal halos Parhelic circle

A spectacular halo display occured just after noon local time over New Mexico, USA, on February 12, 2003. The halos present were not very rare, but they were of unusual high quality, completeness and sharpness. Visible in the photo are the 22-degrees circular halo around the sun, the two 22-degrees parhelia, a complete parhelic circle, the left 120-deg. parhelion (white spot on parhelic circle, to the left) and fine upper tangent arc.

Nikon FE with Sigma 16mm full-frame fisheye lens (frame diagonal measures 180 degrees), at f/11; Fuji Provia 100-F slide film.