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

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

From Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted, or what's in a dream: a scientific and practical exposition by Miller, Gustavus Hindman