Subparhelia (sub-sundogs)

Subparhelia (sub-sundogs) are the reflected version of parhelia (sundogs) as seen from the air. In other words, they are the sundogs on the sides of the subsun instead of the real sun. Because ice crystals in clouds are often not perfectly horizontal, subparhelia may look 'taller' than normal sundogs. Note the occurance of subparhelia does not depend on parhelia: the former can appear without the latter.

Subparhelion. 2004/11/20.

2004/11/20 10:30 EST, above Pennsylvania. This subparhelion lasted less than one minute. Nikon coolpix 995 camera.

Subparhelion, subsun, and lower tangent arc. 2003/2/13.

2003/2/13 17:53 EST. This subparhelion to the left side of the subsun occurred in the cloud below during a flight from Atlanta. It was elongated vertically. The real sun was above the wing, outside of the frame. At that time there was NO parhelion to the left of the real sun. There was also a lower tangent arc below the subsun. Nikon coolpix 995 digital camera.

Subparhelion. 2003/2/13.

2003/2/13 17:52 EST. Close up of the subparhelion. It was particularly bright at that time.