According to Bambang Setiahadi, researchers from the Sun Watukosek Observation Station covered in the Aerospace Observation Station in Watukosek Lapan, East Java, the visible halo encircling the sun is actually a result of bending of sunlight by particles of water vapor in the atmosphere."So, in this rainy season there is water vapor particles that rise up to very high in the atmosphere. Particles of water has the ability to bend or refract the light of the Sun," Bambang said when contacted Tuesday afternoon.
Because there in the daytime, when the position of the Sun is perpendicular to the Earth, then the deflected light is also smaller. "That's why the look in the eyes of the public who happened to witness it is a dark circle around the Sun," he added.
This phenomenon is actually tantamount to the formation of a rainbow in the morning or late afternoon after the rain. According to Bambang, a rainbow arch is often seen at the bottom of the horizon due to water vapor particles that deflect sunlight gathered in the lower atmosphere. On the other hand, in the morning or late afternoon sun was still at a low angle.
"In this tilted position, the ability to refract light water particles larger, so the colors that appear also more complete," he explained.
In the daytime, when the Sun in a position perpendicular to the Earth, the light-bending ability to be low so that the color looks very limited. "The color looks dark because of the view toward the Sun also blocked with dust. If in the morning, when the air is still clean, that looks is the color red," said Bambang.
Not surprisingly, this halo phenomenon is only visible during the day, at around 12.00-1300. In addition, the same as rainbow, halo phenomenon also can be seen only in the rainy season.
