sun dogs
Bright ice halos
Sun dogs are bright spots that appear on either side of the sun, caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in the atmosphere.
They often occur when the sun is low on the horizon and thin cirrus clouds are present.
Also called parhelia or mock suns: We spotted sun dogs flanking the winter sun.
Mock solar apparition
- parhelic circleHalo parallel to horizon
- refractionWave bending between media
- dispersionScattering across space
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
light pillar · halo · corona · aureole · iridescence · diffraction · glory
Solid water formations
- hexagonalSix-edged polygon's form
- diamond dustSuspended frozen precipitation
- cirrus cloudsHigh, thin ice formations
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
suspended particles · sublimation · high altitude · cold air · light bending
Observable occurrence in air
- meteorologyStudy of atmospheric phenomena
- cirrusHigh wispy ice formation
- cold weatherFrigid atmospheric conditions
- clear skyAtmosphere without clouds
horizon · sunrise · sunset · twilight · Arctic · Antarctic · high pressure · fair weather
Prophetic indicator
- Norse mythologyScandinavian pagan religion
- portentSign of future calamity
- ancient astronomyEarly study of celestial bodies
Imitative stand-in for reality
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- bright spotsEncouraging exceptions
parhelion
Mock solar apparition
- parhelic circleHalo parallel to horizon
- refractionWave bending between media
- dispersionScattering across space
prismatic · light pillar · halo · corona · aureole · iridescence · diffraction · glory
ice crystals
Solid water formations
- hexagonalSix-edged polygon's form
- diamond dustSuspended frozen precipitation
- cirrus cloudsHigh, thin ice formations
crystalline · suspended particles · sublimation · high altitude · cold air · light bending
atmospheric phenomenon
Observable occurrence in air
- meteorologyStudy of atmospheric phenomena
- cirrusHigh wispy ice formation
- cold weatherFrigid atmospheric conditions
clear sky · horizon · sunrise · sunset · twilight · Arctic · Antarctic · high pressure · fair weather
omen
Prophetic indicator
- Norse mythologyScandinavian pagan religion
- portentSign of future calamity
- ancient astronomyEarly study of celestial bodies
simulacrum
Imitative stand-in for reality
- mirageAtmospheric optical deception
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- bright spotsEncouraging exceptions
- skyclouds, blue sky, cloud, sun, moon
- sunsol, solar, sunlight, sunspots, sunshine
- sky photographysunset photos, sunrise photos, astrophotography, night sky, blue hour
- tricks of the lightmirage, glare, lens flare, shimmer, reflection
- atmospheric opticsrainbows, halos, haloes, mirages, auroras
- sky lightsnorthern lights, southern lights, rainbow, halo, sun halo
sun dogsrainbows
Multicolored atmospheric arcs
fogbows · glory · crepuscular rays · green flash · mirages