Parhelion

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Parhelion \Par*hel"ion\, n.; pl. {Parhelia}. [L. parelion, Gr.
     ?, ?; para` beside + ? the sun.]
     A mock sun appearing in the form of a bright light, sometimes
     near the sun, and tinged with colors like the rainbow, and
     sometimes opposite to the sun. The latter is usually called
     an {anthelion}. Often several mock suns appear at the same


     time. Cf. {Paraselene}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  parhelion
       n : a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction
           by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen
           at once" [syn: {mock sun}, {sundog}]
       [also: {parhelia} (pl)]