Scheiner's Halo: Evidence for Ice Ic in the Atmosphere

Science. 1981 Jan 23;211(4480):389-90. doi: 10.1126/science.211.4480.389.

Abstract

Refraction of sunlight at the angle of minimum deviation between octahedral faces of crystals of ice Ic in the upper atmosphere could produce a halo around the sun or the moon at 27.46 degrees . Crystals of hexagonal ice having low-index faces cannot produce a halo of this radius. It is therefore suggested that Scheiner's halo, which has been reported at least four times since 1629 at 28 degrees from the sun, is due to ice Ic. If this is correct, it is apparently the first evidence that ice Ic occurs naturally and that liquid water can freeze to ice Ic.