Sun dogs are the result of a circular halo around the sun . ... The term “sun dog” (or mock sun) originates from Greek mythology. It was believed the god Zeus walked his dogs across the sky and that the bright “false suns” in the sky on either side of the sun’s disk were the dogs.
Where did the term sundog come from?
The origin of the name “sundog” is not entirely clear, but according to Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling, the name originates from the Greek myth that Zeus walked his dogs across the sky and that the bright “false suns” in the sky on either side of the sun were Zeus’ dogs.
What do sundogs mean?
Sun dogs occur when the Sun or Moon shines through a thin cirrus cloud composed of hexagonal ice crystals falling with their principal axes vertical, as opposed to the halo phenomenon that occurs when the principal axes are randomly arranged in a plane perpendicular to the Sun’s or Moon’s rays.
What is the English of sundog?
(also parhelion, mock sun ) a bright spot that appears in the sky on either side of the sun, caused by the refraction (= bending) of light through ice crystals in high cloud: Many displays, such as rainbows and sundogs, are caused by ice crystals or water vapor.
What is a snow dog in the sky?
Snow dogs are part of an ice halo , which typically include the familiar circle around the sun (or moon) and are most easily seen when the sun is low in the sky, he said. The reflecting light, displaced 22 degrees to the left and right of the sun, are also called snow bows.
Do sun dogs mean snow?
Sundogs and Weather Prediction
Probably the biggest difference between the two is that a rainbow usually signals an end to the rain, while a sundog often means that rain, or snow is on the way .
Are sun dogs rare?
Halos and sun dogs are not rare , especially with the cold winters experienced across the Prairies, but it isn’t an everyday occurrence. You need the right atmospheric conditions for ice crystals to form, then the sun has to be at the correct angle for light to refract.
Are sun dogs good luck?
A sun dog develops due to refraction of sunlight through ice crystals. ... Sun dogs are red closest to the sun and then blue as the light gets farther away. According to folklore, seeing a sun dog is good luck . Sun dogs are fairly common, so you can see these colorful bright spots many times during the year.
How often do Sundogs occur?
They can occur at any time of the year and from any place, although they are most visible when the sun is lower on the horizon in January, April, August and October. They also occur when ice crystals in the atmosphere are more common, but can be seen whenever and wherever there are cirrus clouds.
What is a rainbow in winter called?
Sundog Formation
Sundogs can and do occur worldwide and during all seasons, but they are most common during winter months when ice crystals are more abundant. ... The ice crystals act like prisms, and as sunlight passes through them, it bends, separating into its component color wavelengths.
What light property causes Sundogs?
Sundogs are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction of light through ice crystals . They are located approximately 22 degrees either left, right, or both, from the sun, depending on where the ice crystals are present.
What is meant by primary rainbow?
: a rainbow in which the effective rays are refracted on entering each drop , reflected from its interior surface, and refracted again on emerging to pass to the observer’s eye and in which the red is seen on the outside edge of the bow.
What is the synonym for imitate?
Some common synonyms of imitate are ape, copy, mimic, and mock . While all these words mean “to make something so that it resembles an existing thing,” imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.
Do sun dogs predict weather?
When sun dogs are present due to high cirrus clouds , they can actually be used as a forecast tool. Since high clouds up in the atmosphere move faster, the high clouds out ahead of a storm system can often be seen first before the lower clouds and precipitation arrive.
What does a Sundog mean in the summer?
In summer, a similar effect can be achieved by thin cirrus clouds at 20,000 to 30,000 feet where the air is cold enough that the clouds are made of ice. ... The thin clouds allow sunlight to pass through the crystals , which refract the light to make summer sun dogs.
Are there rainbows in winter?
Rainbows are most common in the summer and are quite rare during the winter because in order to observe a rainbow in the sky there must be both sunshine and rain, therefore water droplets in the air.
