Sun halo captured in Maine skies

© WJBQ

A lot of people in Maine posted photos on social media on Saturday (June 6) of a ring around the sun. I saw two rainbow rings but didn't go all double rainbow guy. Here's what caused the ring to appear overhead.

According to an article by The University of Illinois, the phenomenon is called a 22 degree halo. The website explains, "Halos form when light from the sun or moon is refracted by ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds....A 22 degree halo is a ring of light 22 degrees from the sun (or moon) and is the most common type of halo."

Stephen Lenz

Usually the ring is white but on more rare occasions it has color like a rainbow.

I also saw a second ring on Saturday which it turns out is a 46 degree halo. They're less common than a 22 degree halo, but form the same way.

In even more rare instances, a sun dog will form which looks like a mini sun on each side of the halo. Isn't science fun?

© Stephen Lenz

Did you get a picture of the 22 degree halo Saturday? Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter.