Halo around the sun in the Ore Mountains, Saxony, Germany
Halo around the sun in the Ore Mountains, Saxony, Germany (© Martin Ruegner/Getty Images)
Why, halo there
What do you call a rainbow formed by ice? An icebow, of course. Others call the phenomenon a halo, and we'll admit it does have a mystical aura. It happens in locales where the bitter cold persists despite the shining sun, like here in the Ore Mountains of Germany. When the conditions are just right, tiny ice crystals in the air will refract light into a colourful halo around the bright sun. It's a perfect complement to the snow angels you're yearning to make in this pristine blanket of white.
© Martin Ruegner/Getty Images