anthelion

[ ant-hee-lee-uhn, an-thee- ]

noun

, plural ant·he·li·a [ant-, hee, -lee-, uh, an-, thee, -].

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

anthelion

/ 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

anthelion

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthelion¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthelion¹

C17: from Late Greek, from anthēlios opposite the sun, from ante- + hēlios sun