A sun dog (or sundog) or mock sun, also called a parhelion[1] (plural parhelia) in atmospheric science, is an atmospheric optical phenomenon that consists of a bright spot to one or both …

The meaning of PARHELION is any of several bright spots often tinged with color that often appear on the parhelic circle on either side of the sun—called also sun dog.

Apr 19, 2022 · In meteorology, a sun dog or parhelion is a bright spot on one or both sides of the Sun. Sun dogs or parhelia are around around 22° directly to the left and right of the Sun, …

Mar 10, 2025 · A sundog or parhelion is defined as a bright optical phenomenon occurring near the horizon on the left, right, or both sides of the sun at a 22-degree radius. It is a result of …

Sun dogs occur when the Sun or Moon shines through a thin cirrus cloud composed of hexagonal ice crystals falling with their principal axes vertical, as opposed to the halo phenomenon that …

Jan 18, 2013 · The scientific name is parhelion (plural: parhelia) from the Greek parēlion, meaning "beside the sun." Speculation is that they are called that because they follow the sun like a dog …

A parhelion, also known as a sun dog, is a meteorological optical phenomenon that appears as a bright spot or mock sun at one or both sides of the sun, typically observed in a ring or halo on …

PARHELION definition: 1. a bright spot that appears in the sky on either side of the sun, caused by the refraction…. Learn more.

Parhelion definition: A bright spot sometimes appearing at either side of the sun, often on a luminous ring or halo, caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by ice crystals …

(Physical Geography) one of several bright spots on the parhelic circle or solar halo, caused by the diffraction of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere, esp around sunset. Also called: mock …