Mock Sun (Noun)
Meaning
A bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen at once".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The mock sun, also known as a parhelion, appeared as a bright spot on the horizon, parallel to the actual sun.
- When ice crystals were present in the atmosphere, they caused diffraction, resulting in a phenomenon known as a mock sun.
- The presence of mock suns, or parhelia, is a relatively rare atmospheric occurrence that is often seen as a bright spot or ring in the sky.
- Scientists have long been fascinated by the mock sun, a bright spot that appears on the parhelic circle, often accompanied by a second or even third "sun".
- Some ancient cultures believed that a mock sun appearing in the sky was a sign of impending disaster, while others saw it as a good omen.