GALLERY: Sundogs guide the way
A pair of sundogs flank the sun as seen from the parking lot behind City Hall in Charles City Wednesday morning. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Reader Cara Heiselman took this photo of sundogs just outside of Charles City on Wednesday morning. Photo submitted
A pair of sundogs flank the sun looking down the Avenue of the Saints going west into Charles City Wednesday morning. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Sundogs over an area farm, photo by Peggy Luck
Photo by Cory Dahlstrom
A pair of sundogs were tracking the sun Wednesday morning as it rose above the horizon.
A sundog, also known as a parhelion, is a colored spot of light that can appear on either or both sides of the sun on cold, clear days, according to the National Weather Service. They are caused by light from the sun being refracted through ice crystals suspended in the air.
The colors usually go from red nearest the sun, out to blue on the outside of the sundog away from the sun, although the colors are not distinct like in a rainbow and blend into white at the outer edges of the sundogs.
They usually flank the sun within a 22 degree arc that forms a halo around the sun.
— Bob Steenson
Facebook
Social Share