Book 7, Question 114
Why Do Sundogs Appear Beside the Sun?
Sundogs are bright, glowing spots that sometimes appear on both sides of the Sun. They form when sunlight shines through tiny flat ice crystals floating in thin, wispy clouds high in the sky. The crystals bend the light and make the sparkly spots.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 7
More fun facts
- Sundogs are also called mock suns or parhelia.
- Sundogs appear about 22 degrees to each side of the Sun.
- They are easiest to see when the Sun is low in the sky.
- The side of a sundog closest to the Sun is always red, with greens and blues farther out.
- Flat, six-sided ice crystals fall almost level as they drift down, so they bend sunlight sideways.
- Sundogs can be seen all over the world, at any time of year, whatever the temperature on the ground.
Sources: NASA Science, NASA Science
Questions kids ask
What is another name for sundogs?
Mock suns, or parhelia.
Can you see sundogs in summer?
Yes. They can appear at any time of year, wherever there are high ice-crystal clouds.