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Solar Halo Encircles Lima’s Midday Sun as Meteorologists Explain the Optics

SENAMHI confirms the spectacle as a routine effect of sunlight refracting through ice crystals in high cirrus clouds.

Overview

  • Residents reported the luminous ring on February 18 across districts including La Molina, Surco, Ate, Rímac, Chorrillos, San Juan de Miraflores and Cercado de Lima.
  • Photos and videos of the display spread quickly on social networks after the midday sighting.
  • The effect occurs when sunlight passes through tiny ice crystals that refract and disperse light, often showing a reddish inner edge distinct from a rainbow.
  • SENAMHI and the Geophysical Institute of Peru described the phenomenon as common in meteorology and unrelated to earthquakes or other geologic events.
  • Authorities advised following SENAMHI’s official channels for verified updates and cautioned against looking directly at the Sun without proper eye protection.