A sun dog or “parhelion” (which derives from Greek and means “beside the Sun”) is made by refraction of light from ice crystals in cirrus clouds. They are atmospheric phenomenon that create bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.

Typically they appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22 degrees distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun. Sun dogs are best seen when the sun is low in the sky.

Click on any of the images below to go to the gallery for a better view.