Sun Dog, December 8, 2011

Sun dogs are atmospheric displays that appear only in very specific conditions.  They are also called a parhelion, in scientific terminology, or are sometimes called a mock sun.  The sun dog halo, appearing at 22º around the sun, is the result of light refracted by small hexagonal ice crystals suspended high in the atmosphere.  Sun dogs are often fringed with rainbow arcs held apart as if by invisible hands on arms outstretched from the sun.  Often, only a part of the halo will appear in the sky above the sun.  On some occasions, as in the case of yesterday when I snapped this photograph near Great Falls, Montana, the halo will encircle the entire sun in spectacular fashion.

--Mitchell Hegman