parhelion

par·he·li·on  (pär-hl-n, -hlyn)

n. pl. par·he·li·a (-hl-, -hly)

A bright spot sometimes appearing on either side of the sun, often on a luminous ring or halo.

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[Latin parlion, from Greek : para-, beside; see para-¹ + hlios, sun; see swel- in Indo-European roots.]

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par·helic (-hlk) adj.

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parhelion  (pär-hl-n)

Plural parhelia

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. Compare anthelion.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

parhelion - a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen at once" mock sun, sundog maculation, patch, speckle, dapple, fleck, spot - a small contrasting part of something; "a bald spot"; "a leopard's spots"; "a patch of clouds"; "patches of thin ice"; "a fleck of red"