Altostratus are thin enough to regularly reveal the sun as if seen through cloudy glass.

Altostratus clouds do not produce a halo phenomenon nor are the shadows of objects on the ground visible.

Sometime virga is seen hanging from Altostratus, and at times may even reach the ground causing very light precipitation.  Virga is streaks of water drops or ice particles falling out of a cloud and evaporating before reaching the ground