parhelic circle

American  

noun

Meteorology.

1. a white, horizontal band passing through the sun, either incomplete or extending around the horizon, produced by the reflection of the sun's rays from the vertical faces of ice prisms in the atmosphere.

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parhelic circle British  

noun

1. meteorol a luminous band at the same altitude as the sun, parallel to the horizon, caused by reflection of the sun's rays by ice crystals in the atmosphere

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parhelic circle Scientific  

/ pär-hē′lĭk /

1. A luminous halo visible at the height of the Sun and parallel to the horizon, caused by the Sun's rays reflecting off atmospheric ice crystals.

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Etymology

Origin of parhelic circle

First recorded in 1885–90; parhel(ion) + -ic

Example Sentences

The emerging rays are parallel to their original direction and form a colourless image on the parhelic circle opposite the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

Double internal reflection by a triangular prism would form a single coloured image on the parhelic circle at about 98� from the sun.

From Project Gutenberg