This post is by Michael Martinez, a USF graduate student aboard the JOIDES Resolution.

Image of cirrus clouds appearing to circle around the sun.

This is amazing.  It is the third one I have seen so far in my whole life.  First time was a long time ago on an island far-far away in middle school.   This halo around the sun is made when you have cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere.  They will refract sunlight (or bend the light) forming this halo or “rainbow” around the sun.