Fact-Check: Rare solar halo in Saudi Arabia mistaken for 'doomsday' in viral video
Riyadh: A viral video is circulating on social media shows a solar halo over Saudi Arabia, with the person filming claiming it to be a sign of the approaching ‘doomsday’
In the purported video the person filming the clip is seen claiming that this solar display looks like it's the arrival of doomsday, its nearing, everyone offer prayers as doomsday is nearing, he is heard saying in Malayalam.
However the viral claim is fake, as the solar display is a rare solar halo.
However, fact-checking reveals that the claim is false. The phenomenon is actually a rare and natural atmospheric event known as a solar halo.
On Thursday morning, residents of Aseer in Saudi Arabia were treated to a breathtaking celestial display as a rare solar halo formed a perfect, translucent ring around the sun, drawing widespread attention, reported Arab News.
Quoting Dr. Abdullah Al-Musa, a researcher and agricultural calendar specialist in the Asir region, Arab News report stated that this optical phenomenon occurs when ice crystals in high-altitude clouds align at a 22-degree angle, creating a striking ring of light around the sun. The effect, sometimes accompanied by rainbow-like colors due to light dispersion, is a result of sunlight interacting with tiny ice crystals in cirrostratus clouds, as reported by Arab News.
In the meantime, Dubai-based English daily Khaleej Times reported a similar phenomenon in the UAE, where on Saturday afternoon, a luminous 22-degree halo encircled the sun.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Emirates Astronomical Society, speaking to Khaleej Times explained that this optical phenomenon occurs when sunlight refracts through ice crystals in thin, high-altitude clouds like cirrus clouds.
The sun halos reportedly occur when sunlight passes through millions of tiny hexagonal ice crystals found in high cirrostratus clouds. The 22° angle refers to the angular radius of the ring around the sun, not the angle at which the light refracts.
Meanwhile the halo led many questions about its possible link to recent solar storms. However, Khadija Al Hariri, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, told the Khaleej Times that, "Sun halos are caused by ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere bending sunlight. Solar storms are caused by activity on the sun like solar flares and coronal mass ejections that send charged particles toward Earth, potentially affecting satellites, power grids, and creating auroras."
She further explained, "This phenomenon is rare in the UAE because it's usually too hot and dry for the high-altitude ice crystals needed to form a sun halo. It doesn’t have any direct impact on the sun or space activity, it's purely a local atmospheric observation."
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Kumaraswamy accuses Cong govt of 'neglecting' farmers in Karnataka
Mysuru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of "neglecting" the farmers in the state and being involved in corruption.
The JD(S) leader took part in an event where President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 1066th Jayanthi celebrations of Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogi Mahaswamiji at Malavalli in Mandya district, which comes under his Lok Sabha constituency.
"I saw a report that 2,800 farmers have died by suicide after this government came to power (in state). The government seems to be not concerned about the farmers. This government on coming to power said that it will give Rs 24,000 crore as loan to 32 lakh farmers for their farming activities, but till November, about Rs 12,000 crore has been paid to 24 lakh farmers, limiting to what was there earlier by managing the books of account," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "These things show the failures of this government. Also, there is a corrupt system. I will not speak about it now. After December 20, I will speak to you in detail. There are a lot of issues to share with you."
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Responding to a question, the JD(S) leader, who turned 66 today, said there is no use of giving any documents. "I'm waiting for the right time."
Regarding the Congress government introducing a bill against "hate speech" in the Assembly, Kumaswamy said it is aimed at silencing the opposition in the state, but they won't be successful.
"What do Congress leaders have to say about their workers' comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi?. He cited slogans -- 'Modi teri kabr khudegi, aaj nahi to kal khudegi' (Modi's grave will be dug.. if not today, then tomorrow) -- allegedly raised against Modi at a Congress rally in Delhi on Sunday.
