On rare occasions, while looking at the horizon during sunset or sunrise, one may observe what seems like “multiple suns” spaced parallel to each other. We take a closer look at this meteorological phenomenon known as a sundog.

A sundog (or sun dog) is part of a family of optical meteorological phenomena that occur as a result of sunlight or moonlight being refracted (bent) by ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds that observers view as different shapes and displays.

The spectacular and more familiar solar halo (or ring around the sun) is the same phenomenon as sun pillars, which also occur close to the horizon. They appear differently, though, partly due to the orientation of the ice crystals and the sun’s position.

In this article, we examine what a sundog is and how it is created. We also look at its characteristics and highlight the important facts about this phenomenon.

During the introduction, a brief description of what a sundog is was already provided. To better understand its characteristics and formation, it is necessary to establish a more detailed definition:

Sundog Definition

A sundog (also known as a parhelion or mock sun) is a bright optical phenomenon that occurs near the horizon to the left and/or right side of the sun at a radius of 22 degrees.

It is caused by sunlight being refracted by six-sided (hexagon-shaped) ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds with their primary axis vertically orientated.

A sundog (sun dog) is officially known as a parhelion but is also referred to as a mock sun.

The word “parhelion” is derived from the Greek “para-” (meaning beside) and “-hēlios” (referring to the sun). Literally translated, it means “beside the sun,” which is exactly where sundogs are situated.

The name “sun dog” also originated in Greek Mythology, where it was believed that Zeus walked his dogs across the sky. Consequently, sundogs represent the dogs of Zeus.

As already mentioned, a sundog is the result of light being refracted through hexagonal ice crystals in cirrus clouds. But it is not only the hexagonal shape of the crystals that allows for the formation of this phenomenon.

The crystals also have a flat, plate-shaped form, which allows them to float horizontally in the air and create the appearance of a sundog on one or both sides of the sun. (As opposed to a solar halo, where the ice crystals are more randomly orientated.)

Consequently, these horizontally orientated crystals cause the sunlight to bend through a 22° angle towards the observer and also break it up into its primary colors.

As a result, the inside edge of a sundog has a red-colored tint, while the rest of the colors blend together to reform the bright white color of the sun. Sometimes, though, a faint blue color forms on its outer edge, and at times the phenomenon displays the full array of rainbow colors.

A sundog is not visible to everyone where the sun shines through cirrus clouds. It depends on your physical location in relation to the position of the sun. Depending on your position, the ice crystals refract the light from the sun at just the right angle for the phenomenon to be visible.

As mentioned in the previous section, the rings you see around the sun result from the ice crystals in cirrus clouds refracting and reflecting the light in such a way that a ring becomes visible from your location on the planet’s surface.

A few things need to be in place in order to observe sundogs beside the sun clearly.

1. 1. The sun needs to be close to the horizon in a mostly clear sky.
   2. Secondly, a relatively clear sky with only a thin layer of cirrus clouds high up in the atmosphere is essential. (Due to the Earth’s natural curvature, it will appear to be hovering over the horizon.)
   3. As sunlight reaches the cirrus clouds close to the horizon (from the observer’s perspective), it gets refracted and “bent” by the ice crystals.
   4. The refraction by the ice crystals causes the light to be projected in a different direction. 
   5. If the light is refracted or “bent” at a 22-degree angle, the sundog will become visible to the observer. (This also means the sundog is situated at a radius of about 22 degrees to the side of the sun.) 

As mentioned, a sundog is not always visible to anyone viewing the sun through a layer of cirrus clouds near the horizon. One has to be in the right location on the planet in relation to the sun, with plate-shaped ice crystals in the clouds also oriented correctly.

The following list summarizes and highlights some of the key facts and characteristics regarding a sundog, some of which have already been explained in more detail elsewhere in this article:

1. 1. A sundog is an optical meteorological phenomenon that occurs near the horizon to the left and/or right side of the sun.
   2. It is the result of plate-shaped hexagonal icy crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds refracting sunlight towards the observer.
   3. A sundog (sun dog) is officially referred to as a parhelion but is also known as a mock sun.
   4. It is the same type of meteorological phenomenon as a solar halo, and it’s not uncommon for the two to appear together at a radius of 22 degrees from the sun.
   5. It has a predominantly bright white color, but since ice crystals break up the sunlight into its primary colors, sundogs usually have a red tint on their inner boundary (facing the sun).
   6. As a result of ice crystals breaking up sunlight into its primary colors (like a prism), a sundog occasionally displays the full range of colors similar to a rainbow.
   7. A sundog is a phenomenon that also occurs on other planets in our solar system, like Saturn, Neptune, and Jupiter.
   8. Sundogs are named after the “dogs of Zeus” in Greek Mythology.

This is by no means an exhaustive and complete list, but it is focused on the key aspects that define a sundog (or parhelion).

A sundog is fairly easy to identify once you know what to look for, and under the conditions it typically appears.

It usually appears as a bright spot or “mock sun” to the left and/or right of the sun at an angle of approximately 22 degrees. In many cases, two sundogs can be visible on either side of the sun, creating the appearance of multiple suns along the horizon.

Sundogs often display a red tint on the side closest to the sun, while the colors further away from the sun may appear more blended or white. Sometimes, under the right conditions, a faint spectrum of colors similar to a rainbow may also be visible.

For the best chance of observing a sundog, the sun should be positioned low on the horizon, typically during sunrise or sunset. A mostly clear sky with a thin layer of high-altitude cirrus clouds is crucial, as these clouds contain the ice crystals responsible for the formation of the phenomenon.

Looking approximately 22 degrees to the left or right of the sun under these conditions will significantly increase the chances of spotting a sundog.

As this article clearly highlighted, the “mock sun” appearing on one or both sides of the sun is not an abnormal or inexplicable event.

It has a logical and scientific explanation for its occurrence, which has everything to do with what is going on in our own atmosphere, and nothing to do with what is happening in space around the sun itself.

It is also worth mentioning again that the ring one sometimes observes around the sun (solar halo) is also exactly the same type of phenomenon as a sundog.

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!