On October 26 the pupils of the Särkijärvi school near the small northern Finland town of Muonio stopped suddenly their indoor activities and rushed out - somebody had noticed a halo wonder in the sky.
At the school were also excursionists from University of Lapland. Among them, Päivi Linnansaari happened to have a camera handy and took several photos of which a selection is presented here.
The display had all the basic flavourings of a great diamond dust display, including the helic arc, circular Lowitz arc and diffuse anthelic arc - the latter of which is seen faintly in the lower left image. But then there is also a new halo: the 46° contact arcs. Theoretically it has been known for quite a while, but no convincing photographs have come up untill now. The halo shows up in the upper right image as three arcs below the circumzenith arc. Probably a comparison with simulation is needed to get a proper grip of it.
The halo display made it also to local newspaper. Couple of kilometres from the location there is a ski center, so the halos may likely have originated from snow guns.
Wow what a beauty I still am without any good halos and the 46 degree contact arcs I had a feeling that ONE day they would be photographed.
ReplyDeleteWunderful display, specially the second pic. I never seen both 46°-arcs in this clearness! Congratulation.
ReplyDeleteYesterday started the winter in most parts of Germany with snow and deep temperatures. Hope to see (and post) soon similarly displays ;o)
Cordial greetings
Claudia
Claudia, the lower one of the arcs at about 46° distance is not 46° halo. It is 46° contact arc, seen here as three individual arcs. 46° contact arc has not been photographed before, as fas as I know.
ReplyDeleteFor its impact on halo science, this display is easily among the top ten halo displays of all time.
ReplyDeleteYep I'd say a deep impact on halo science.
ReplyDelete@Marko: sorry, I haven't seen it on my office screen :o( Now at home I'm astonished all the more. This display is a cornerstone in the halo history! I never seen a photo with 46° tangent arc before!
ReplyDeleteRespectfully
Claudia