Some rays are turned back in the direction from which they came, the familiar process of reflection. Other rays are transmitted into the crystal. Some of the transmitted rays change direction, a process known as refraction. Sundogs appear because ice crystals in the shape of hexagonal dinner plates tend to drift downward with their flat bases parallel to the ground. The sunlight passes through the crystal and refracts sideways.
If the Sun is low enough in the sky, you see spots of bright light on one or both sides of the sun, depending on where the clouds are. Refraction causes blue light to be bent more than red light, and so sundogs can show a spectrum of colors with red nearest the Sun.
Ever seen a rainbow-colored patch of light on the side of the Sun? Discover this optical phenomenon, how sundogs form, and even how they predict the weather! A sundog is similar to a rainbow, and more common than rainbows. Sometimes they look like bright rainbows on either side of the Sun. Other times they are brighter and actually look like two extra Suns.
Both rainbows and sundogs are formed by moisture filtering the sunlight. Rainbows form when drops of rain act as prisms, breaking sunlight into a multitude of colors. Sundogs appear when sunlight hits clouds of ice crystals and the ice acts as prisms. Sundogs often form in pairs on either side of the Sun. Often they appear white but sometimes they are quite colorful, looking like patches of rainbow.
The colors usually go from red closest to the Sun, out to blue on the outside of the sundog. Like rainbows, sundogs are created when sunlight is filtered by moisture in the sky. Used by permission HyperPhysics, C. Nave Georgia State University. Similar to sundogs, sunlight is refracts through ice crystals; these hexagonal ice crystals are suspended in cirrostratus clouds. Look for sundogs when the Sun is rising or setting, so near the horizon.
Sun halos can appear anywhere, even when the Sun is high in the sky. Probably the biggest difference between the two is that a rainbow usually signals an end to the rain, while a sundog often means that rain, or snow is on the way. Next time you see a sundog, look out for wet weather! Good luck? In medieval times, the three bright lights were sometimes interpreted as the sign of the trinity, a sign of great fortune. Nowadays, they are a sign that you were lucky to be looking at the sky at just the right time.
You get to see those faithful companions of our sun—sundogs. I live in North Carolina and have saw Sun Dogs several times over the years. You can see them any where, just depends on how high the clouds full of ice crystals are and your location relationship to the sun and clouds. The colors usually go from red closest to the sun, out to blue on the outside of the sundog. Sundogs are also known as mock suns or parhelia, which means "with the sun".
Sun Pillars appear as a shaft of light extending vertically above the sun, most often at sunrise or sundown. Look for sun pillars when the sun is low on the horizon, and cirrus clouds are present.
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