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Rare Parhelic Circle captured in Somerset skies by Mendip photographer

By SWNS 8th May 2025

Local News

Local News by SWNS 8th May 2025

Photographer Josh Dury.

A photographer has captured a rare optical phenomenon in the skies above Somerset.

Josh Dury spotted the Parhelic Circle on a visit to the Mendip Hills area of outstanding natural beauty on Wednesday (7 May).

A Parhelic Circle looks like a white ring that stretches all the way around the sky at the same height as the Sun.

It is formed mainly by the reflection of sunlight off the vertical faces of countless hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, typically within cirrus clouds.

Josh, who used five images blended for his final picture, says: "I spotted it by chance. It was amazing to capture a rare optical phenomenon that is not typically observed."

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