A post on X claims that a “bizarre experiment” has made a ring visible around the sun in a photo of the Arizona sky.
🇺🇸Saguaro National Park, Arizona November 24th
Strange experiments in the atmosphere produce strange results. pic.twitter.com/2F4gZqT0ij
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) November 21, 2024
Verdict: False
This is called a “solar halo.” This is a natural occurrence and is not caused by anything bad.
Fact check:
While climate change is hotly debated in the political world, many users of social media apps are clinging to conspiracy theories about extreme weather events.
This year, the southeastern United States has been hit by two major hurricanes within weeks of each other, leading many to believe: government I was involved in their creation. Others believe that governments prefer adding harmful chemicals to the atmosphere. chemtrailsits existence has not been proven.
An X user posted a photo of a ring around the sun seen at dusk in Arizona's Saguaro National Park in November, claiming an unnamed “bizarre experiment” caused the unusual sight. . However, this implication is false. What we see is called a solar halo, and it is a natural phenomenon. (Related: Fact check: What does a viral video depict? harp-Did clouds form before Hurricane Milton?)
According to national weather bureauhalos are caused by light being refracted by ice crystals present in cirrus clouds. When these crystals line up at exactly right angles, a halo appears, giving the impression that there is a giant ring around the sun or moon.
X users claim that a “weird experiment” caused this, but there is no evidence that any scientific anomaly or demonstration caused such a thing.
This isn't the first time Check Your Fact has debunked a conspiracy theory about weather manipulation.
