parhelion

American  

[pahr-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn] / pɑrˈhi li ən, -ˈhil jən /

noun

Meteorology.

parhelia plural

1. a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands.

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parhelion British  

/ ˌpɑːhɪˈlaɪəkəl, pɑːˈhiːlɪən, pɑːˈhiːlɪk, -ˈhɛlɪk /

noun

1. Also called: mock sun.   sundog.  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 Compare anthelion

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parhelion Scientific  

/ pär-hē′lē-ən /

parhelia plural

1. A white spot appearing at times in the parhelic circle. White parhelia are believed to form from light that is reflected off of atmospheric ice crystals; colored parhelia are believed to form from light that is refracted by atmospheric ice crystals. Multiple parhelia can often be seen simultaneously.

2. Compare anthelion

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• parheliacal
  adjective
• parhelic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• parhelia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of parhelion

First recorded in 1640–50; alteration of Latin parēlion, from Greek parḗlion, noun use of neuter of parḗlios “beside the sun”; see par-, helio-

Example Sentences

At each point of contact occurs a parhelion which is a mock sun of brilliant colors and called a sun-dog.

From Reading the Weather by Longstreth, Thomas Morris

A very brilliant and clearly defined parhelion was visible at the time, and there were only a few light clouds.

From Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea by Franklin, John

I tried fata morgana, mirage, parhelion, and whatever I had learned of recognized illusion, but in vain sought satisfaction, or anything pointing in the direction of satisfaction.

From The Flight of the Shadow by MacDonald, George

Among the remarkable phenomena which came under the observation of the Jesuit Fathers in Mackinaw, was the appearance of a parhelion on the 21st of January, 1671.

From Old Mackinaw The Fortress of the Lakes and its Surroundings by Strickland, W. P. (William Peter)

During the afternoon, the sun occasionally gleamed through a tract of cirro-stratus cloud and there was a very fine parhelion: signs of an approaching blizzard.

From The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 by Mawson, Douglas, Sir