Wed Sep 25 07:50:51 UTC 2024: ## Award-Winning Astrophotographer Explains How to Capture Stunning Halos in the Sky
**New Delhi, India:** Renowned Indian astrophotographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee, the first Indian to win the prestigious “Astronomy Photographer of the Year” award, has shared his expertise on capturing mesmerizing halos, the rainbow-like structures often seen around the sun and moon.
“Halos are formed when sunlight or moonlight interacts with ice crystals in the atmosphere,” explains Mukherjee, who holds a doctorate in Linguistics and whose work spans various sub-genres of astrophotography. “These crystals refract and reflect the light, creating the distinctive circular patterns we see.”
Mukherjee explains that halos indicate the presence of high-altitude cirrus clouds, often too thin to be visible to the naked eye. He further clarifies that the most common type, the 22-degree halo, results from hexagonal ice crystals, while other halos with varying radii are formed by pyramidal crystals.
For aspiring photographers, Mukherjee recommends a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens (15-24mm) to capture the vibrant solar halos. While a tripod is suggested, it’s not essential. However, photographing the dimmer lunar halos requires a tripod due to the lower light levels.
Here are some tips for capturing stunning halo photos:
* **Use a wide-angle lens:** This captures the entire halo circle.
* **Focus manually:** Autofocus may struggle in low light.
* **Shoot in RAW format:** This gives you more flexibility in post-processing.
* **Use a tripod:** Essential for sharp, clear images.
* **Avoid overexposure:** This can wash out the colours.
Mukherjee’s guidance empowers enthusiasts to capture the ethereal beauty of halos, urging them to “look up” and enjoy the wonders of the night sky.
First Piper 