Sundog/Parhelia

So what is a Sundog or Parhelia?

Well its like a rainbow only without the rain! You still need the sun at a certain angle, but you also need certain type of clouds and more importantly certain ice particles within those certain clouds and for these ice crystals to be at a certain angle and position to the sun. They are surprisingly common apparently! More common than rainbows.

When all of these conditions are met you may get to see one, if you are in the right place at the right time, and for the first time in my life, I was.

This picture was taken shortly after arriving at Bhaltos (Valtos) on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Ref: IMG 8706

Location: Bhaltos, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Photographer: Emma Taylor

Sundog/Parhelia

So what is a Sundog or Parhelia?

Well its like a rainbow only without the rain! You still need the sun at a certain angle, but you also need certain type of clouds and more importantly certain ice particles within those certain clouds and for these ice crystals to be at a certain angle and position to the sun. They are surprisingly common apparently! More common than rainbows.

When all of these conditions are met you may get to see one, if you are in the right place at the right time, and for the first time in my life, I was.

This picture was taken shortly after arriving at Bhaltos (Valtos) on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Ref: IMG 8706

Location: Bhaltos, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Photographer: Emma Taylor