Photographer captures rare ice halo phenomena in New Mexico

RED RIVER, N.M., Jan. 10 (UPI) — A photographer from Texas, Joshua Thomas, recently captured a photo in New Mexico of a rare ice crystal halo phenomenon.

In order to point out the interesting details in the photo, the US National Weather Service of La Crosse, Wisconsin made the photo into a diagram that shows the different aspects of the halo.

The phenomenon occurs when minuscule ice crystals in the atmosphere reflect and refract light in a certain way. The halos can be created by light from the sun or the moon, and seeing one often means there will be some kind of precipitation within the following 24 hours.

Here is a superb halo display from Red River, NM yesterday morning. pic.twitter.com/swOtvLbvv5— NWS La Crosse (@NWSLaCrosse) January 10, 2015