Parhelion
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Parhelion

by Konstantinos Kourtidis, Demokritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece

Parhelia (or sun dogs) are a kind of halo observed at the same altitude on either side of the sun in cirrus clouds. They are colorful, being red on the sunward side. They are caused by ice crystal plates that are horizontally aligned, and might extend vertically when the crystals are not perfectly aligned.

This one was observed after a summer rain in NE Greece.