anthelion

American  

[ant-hee-lee-uhn, an-thee-] / æntˈhi li ən, ænˈθi- /

noun

plural

anthelia

1. a luminous, white spot occasionally appearing at the sun's elevation but in the opposite part of the sky.

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anthelion British  

/ ænˈθiː-, æntˈhiːlɪən /

noun

1. a faint halo sometimes seen in polar or high altitude regions around the shadow of an object cast onto a thick cloud bank or fog

2. a white spot occasionally appearing on the parhelic circle at the same height as and opposite to the sun

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anthelion Scientific  

/ ănt-hē′lē-ən,ăn-thē′- /

plural

anthelia

1. A bright white or colored spot appearing at times in the sky opposite the Sun. White anthelia are believed to form from light that is reflected off atmospheric ice crystals; colored anthelia are believed to form from light that is refracted by atmospheric ice crystals.

2. Compare parhelion

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Etymology

Origin of anthelion

1660–70; < Late Greek anthḗlion, neuter of anthḗlios opposite the sun, equivalent to ant- ant- + hḗli ( os ) the sun + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

Parhelion, par-hē′li-un, n. a bright light caused by refraction of light through ice crystals floating in the air, sometimes seen near the sun, and sometimes opposite to the sun, when it is called anthelion:—pl.

From Project Gutenberg

Anthelion, ant-hēl′yun, n. a luminous coloured ring observed by a spectator on a cloud or fog-bank over against the sun:—pl.

From Project Gutenberg

What of the silhouette or the anthelion of the Scandinavian Alps, and the aerial cities so often seen by explorers and travelers?

From Project Gutenberg