parhelion

[ pahr-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn ]

noun

, Meteorology.

, plural par·he·li·a [pahr-, hee, -lee-, uh, -, heel, -y, uh].

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. Compare paraselene.

parhelion

/ ˌpɑːhɪˈlaɪəkəl; pɑːˈhiːlɪən; pɑːˈhiːlɪk; -ˈhɛlɪk /

noun

1. 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 Also calledmock sunsundog Compare anthelion

parhelion

/ pär-hē′lē-ən /

, Plural parhelia

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

Derived Forms

• parhelic, adjective

Other Words From

• par·he·lic par·he·li·a·cal [pahr-hi-, lahy, -, uh, -k, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parhelion¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of parhelion¹

C17: via Latin from Greek parēlion, from para- ¹(beside) + hēlios sun

Example Sentences

Also visible were a range of other effects, including parhelia - or sun dogs - which appear as bright patches either side of the sun.

From BBC

Sometimes called a sun dog, its scientific name is a parhelion, and on this journey, both men have been stopped, mesmerized by them.

From New York Times

The central halo and three bright spots are the result of an optical phenomenon called a sun dog — or parhelion — which occurs when ice crystals in the atmosphere refract sunlight.

From Nature

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

From Project Gutenberg

The weather in the wintertime is generally bright and clear; sometimes there are fogs, and hoar frost, which encrusts the trees with the most beautiful crystals: parhelia and aurora borealis are frequently seen.

From Project Gutenberg