Rare ring seen around Sun in city

A multi-colour ring around the sun at around 12 noon on Saturday has grabbed all attention when the fifth phase election in three districts was progressing in full swing.

People were found watching the ring around the sun and it could be the only thing for which central force jawans, police and workers of all the political parties had gathered at one place.

But the matter become clear to all with scientists explaining the matter on different news channels when people were glued to their television sets to get updates on the ongoing election.

According to the scientists the phenomenon is called 22 degree circular halo. It occurs when rays of sun get refracted through ice crystals in cirrus clouds that form when moisture freezes in the upper atmosphere. It can also be noticed around moon if cirrus cloud is formed.

Professor Somak Raychaudhury, director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, said the phenomenon is quite common in cold countries or in winter. Explaining that why it formed in the city where the temperature is around 37 degree Celsius, he said though the temperature is high on the ground, it is around -30 degree Celsius up there and it resulted to the formation of hexagonal ice crystals.

The halo forms when rays pass through the crystals almost the same principal for the formation of rainbow.

Meanwhile, as per the prediction of the meteorological department there will be a drop in temperature from Monday onwards and there is also high possibility of thundershower as well.

The thundershower has been predicted as there is a possibility of the formation of a cyclonic circulation.