I first noticed it a bit after 7 AM. Normally these celestial light shows are only visible very briefly. But this 22 degree halo was present all morning and the early part of the afternoon. I took advantage and drove around looking for interesting foregrounds.
A 22° halo is produced by hexagonal ice crystals in the sky as light refracts through one crystal face and out another face.
Although the halo around the sun was clearly visible, most people likely never noticed it since most people do not look at the sun.
I photographed the amazing waterfalls below Sunapee Harbor, the subject of a future blog. Then I headed back to the harbor for the halo. The lake was very high from all the recent rain. I made the 17-photo panorama below.
A short walk to the gazebo produced this photo.
Nearby were some tall trees. You might be able to spot a small sun dog on the right side of the photo. Some people mistakenly call the 22 degree halo a sun dog. Sun dogs are just the bright colors that sometime appear on one or both sides of the sun, with or without the halo.
Rob was fishing. As I shot a 15-photo panorama, he hooked a huge bass. Unfortunately, I did not catch a photo of the bass, and he did not land it — it threw the hook very quickly.
Mindy just arrived at the Abbott Library to open up for the day. I photographed her entering.
Heading to New London, I walked into Cricenti’s Bog, now known as the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog. It is a wonderful spot for young and old. Cricenti’s was a great supermarket near by, now replaced by Hannaford. It is fine, but for serious shopping we like the Lebanon Coop or Market Basket in Warner. For fresh veggies nothing can beat Muster Field Farm, coming up below in this blog.
From Colby Sawyer College I took a photo of Mount Kearsarge in the distance.
Still in New London, I took another photo of Keasarge from the Kidder Lot near Spring Ledge Farm.
I found a nice tree to place below the halo up Bunker Hill Road in New London.
Farther up Bunker Hill Road, I took a photo of Mount Kearsarge in the distance.
I hoped to get corn at Muster Field Farm, but my timing was off. I regretted not buying more ears a few days earlier. Their corn is amazing, but don’t tell anyone.
Still it was a great visit. I took the three photos below that include the iconic and beautiful Pillsbury Barn.
Back in Sunapee I took this photo from Burkehaven Harbor at 11 AM.
Here is another photo from Burkehaven Harbor taken at 2 PM. The halo persisted.
I close with two more photos from Sunapee.
It sure was an exciting seven hours.