ETHIOPIAN PERSPECTIVES AND SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS OF THE SUN HALO PHENOMENON ON APRIL 7, 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze the many interpretations and reactions to the sun halo phenomenon reported in Ethiopia on April 7, 2022, with a particular focus on religious perspectives and scientific analysis. The diameter of the sun halo was measured to be 0.092 km, indicating the peculiarity of this atmospheric occurrence. A study among various religious leaders and community members showed that 80% of respondents considered the phenomenon required special prayers or religious rites, suggesting a significant tendency towards spiritual significance. Additionally, 14% of respondents indicated curiosity regarding the event, suggesting a normal human reaction to odd or incomprehensible situations. Meanwhile, 3% of responders mentioned ceremonial offerings or no specific activities to the sun halo. From a technical aspect, picture analysis of the sun halo revealed an initial pixel count of 108,584 with a standard deviation of 43,265 and a noise standard deviation of 0.0962994, resulting in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 33.744. This study underlines the clarity and prominence of the sun halo in the obtained image. Furthermore, the study analyzed the relationship between the sun halo and atmospheric conditions, revealing a correlation coefficient of 0.49 on Day 7, coinciding with occasional cloud cover and atmospheric disturbances. The correlation coefficient slightly reduced to 0.48 on Day 8, when the sky was clear. These findings show a probable relationship between the presence of atmospheric disturbances and the appearance of the sun halo, offering a detailed explanation of this remarkable natural phenomenon. To understand the underlying atmospheric dynamics and probable seasonal trends, future studies should concentrate on a more thorough analysis of sun halos, combining a bigger dataset of occurrences across diverse geographical regions and climatic conditions. Further research could examine the psychological and cultural effects of celestial phenomena, such as sun halos, on different cultures, offering more insight into how these occurrences affect cultural norms and belief systems. Keywords: Sun, halo, scientific, people thought, image