Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-14
Rare Phenomenon Reported
to Bureau Involves Com.
pIicated Mathematics.
DUE TO LIGHT EFFECT
ON CRYSTALS IN CLOUDS
Halos Around Persons Also Can Be
Explained by Optical Laws,
According to Experts.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.

Observation of q skiold halo around
the sun. with five gun-dogS on guard In
its bows, has just been reported to the
Weather Bureau.
This phenomenon, which in other
ages might have been considered a
celestial portent, was seen in the sky
about 8 am. March 3 by A. d. Daniels,
Weather Bureau observer at Lacrosse,
Wis. It lasted for about 20 minutes.
Daniels has forwarded diagram Of the
halos. The CONGREGATIONS Of light ap-
peared, he reports, when there was a
thin veil of evenly distributed GIRO
stratus clouds over the sky, and dis
appeared rapidly when the nature OF
these clouds changed.
The "sun-dogs" are larger patches of
light which appear like bulges in the
bows of the haloS. The first halo,
Daniels reported, was tinted like rain
bow, and. its two ends meeting in
sun-dog, appeared like the outstretched
wings Of q celestial bird. Below 1t were
two sets of halos in partial contact
with each other, so that they appeared
like sets of horns. Stretching nearly
around the horizon was grayish band
of light.
Reflection Causes Tints.
The rainbow tinted bands, it was ex-
planned at the Weather Bureau, were
due to the refraction Of sunlight from
ice crystals in the clouds, while the
gray band at the horizon was due to
reflection. The sun-dog effects are due
to the light falling on ice crystals
standing vertically.
Even more complex halos have been
reported, It was said, including q seven
fold halo. observed at st. Petersburg
MANY years ago, which was not under
stood by the observers. Some OF the
finest examples have been seen by
American observers. Involving the
very complicated mathematics Of the
refraction and reflection Of light,
Weather Bureau experts say, the ex-
cult. They follow well understood
mathematical laws. however, and the
queerest forms they assume can be
fitted into mathematical formulate.
Many of the halos which have been
reported around the heads OF human
beings follow similar mathematical
principles, according to Or. William j.
Humphreys of the Weather Bureau, TO
whom Mr.. Daniels report was referred.
Even the practice of portraying saints
with circles Of light around their heads,
he explained, probably was not entirely
matter Of fancy or Of supernatural
observed according to physical laws.
In high attitudes when the air is
charged with electricity there may be a
brush discharge from the head which
has the appearance of q halo. At GER
tain times on Pixies Peak, DR.. Hum
phreyS said, q person may hold UP q
finger and see q circle of light appear
around it. If there happens to be an
electrical storm the person In such a
situation is in some danger Of being
killed by lightning.
Can Get Halo without Risk.
DR.. Humphreys has found that the
practice OF investing saints with haloS
can be traced to Byzantine artists. The
phenomenon was well known at the
time, although the mathematical ex-
PLANTATION was unknown. So it might
easily have appeared as sign of super
natural favor, especially If the person
happened to be Of sanity character and
was killed by lightning shortly after
ward.
But it is not necessary either to be a
saint or to run the risk Of lightning,
DR.. Humphreys pointed out, to be in
vested with halo to your own salts
faction, although there may be some
dn63ulty In convincing others. It can
be seen by almost anybody on q thick
lawn covered by q coat of fine dew in
bright sunshine. This effect Is known
as the "hellegenshein" It appears in
the form Of a bright circlet Of light
around the head Of the shadow on the
grass.
Unfortunately for the reputation for
Verac1ty Of some would-be saints, it Is
only visible, due to the optical laws in
VOWED, to the subject in person. A
person standing beside him cannot see
It, although he is perfectly aware of a
halo around his own head. This halo,
Dr. Humphreys explained, is due to
hgnt rejected from the outer surface
OF deWdropS which Is brightest In the
orect line OF incidence, and hence ap-
pears OBVIOUS to the person around
whose shadow 1t forms.
Has Led to DueIa.
Duels have been fought in the past
over this phenomenon, DR.. Humphreys
explained, when it has been perfectly
obvious to person that he has been
marked with divine favor, and Others
supposedly IN a position to bear wit
ness to the appearance of the halo
nave persiStently denied seeing it.
Equally mystical in appearance is
the rarer event Of the Broken bow. in
which person sees rings of colored
light around the shadow of his own
mead cast upon q nearby fog bank.
This Is due, It was explained. to the
scattering Of light from the droplets
making up the fog.
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