Sundogs: Bright Spots of Light in the Sky

A sundog, also known as a parhelion or a sun dog, is a bright spot of light that appears on either side of the sun when sunlight passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere. The crystals act as prisms and refract the sun's light, creating the appearance of two additional suns.
Sundogs are relatively rare and can be seen in areas where there is a lot of ice in the atmosphere, such as during cold weather or near glaciers. They are often seen as bright spots on either side of the sun, but can also appear as arcs or halos around the sun.
Sundogs are similar to halos, which are rings of light that appear around the sun or moon when light passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere. However, while halos are typically circular, sundogs are usually elliptical or irregularly shaped.
Sundogs have been observed for centuries and have been a subject of interest for astronomers and atmospheric scientists. They can provide valuable information about the composition of the atmosphere and the presence of certain types of ice crystals.