parhelion

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

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Meteorology.

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

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

/ pɑːˈhiːlɪən; pɑːˈhiːlɪk; ˌpɑːhɪˈlaɪəkəl; -ˈhɛlɪk /

See anthelion
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

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

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

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

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

In that year a parhelion appeared undistinguishable by the naked eye from the real sun.

I do not always know him in these cases as my own parhelion.

The dictionaries and cyclopedias of our careful publishers call the appearance of two or more suns (or moons) a Parhelion.

On the 16th March the same parhelion appeared, and was seen from three different places more than fifty leagues apart.

The same parhelion was seen on the island of Manitou in Lake Huron, and accompanied by a very remarkable appearance.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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