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A sun dog
(scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, from Greek parēlion (παρήλιον) from παρά (beside) + ἥλιος (sun), "beside the sun"; also called a mock sun
or a phantom sun
is an atmospheric phenomenon
that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or
halo on either side of the sun
.
Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos.