How Do You Spell PARHELION?

1. A parhelion, also known as a sundog, is a meteorological phenomenon that appears as a bright spot or halo-like glow in the sky, often seen alongside the sun. It is characterized by the presence of two or more colored patches of light, usually appearing on either side of the sun at equal distances. This optical illusion occurs when sunlight passes through ice crystals in the earth's atmosphere, which act as prisms, refracting the light and causing it to scatter.

   Parhelia typically exhibit a range of colors, with the inner portion being red and the outer parts appearing more blue or green. The intensity and size of these patches may vary depending on factors such as the size and orientation of the ice crystals. These atmospheric conditions required for the formation of parhelia are often associated with cold weather fronts or high-altitude cirrus clouds.

   The term "parhelion" is derived from the Greek words "para," meaning beside, and "helios," meaning sun. Historically, parhelia were considered to be celestial omens or signs of impending bad weather, and various cultures interpreted them differently. Nowadays, these phenomena are primarily viewed as fascinating natural spectacles and are of interest to meteorologists, astronomers, and sky watchers alike.

   In summary, a parhelion is an atmospheric optical phenomenon characterized by bright patches of colored light appearing on each side of the sun, caused by the refraction of sunlight passing through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

2. A mock sun appearing as a bright light near the real sun.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for PARHELION

The word "parhelion" comes from the combination of two Greek words: "para" meaning "beside" or "adjacent to", and "helion" meaning "sun". So, "parhelion" literally translates to "beside the sun". The term is used to describe the atmospheric phenomenon commonly known as a "sun dog", where bright spots appear on either side of the sun. The term was first used in English in the early 17th century.

Plural form of PARHELION is PARHELIA

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