parhelion

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

parhelion
    n 1: a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction
         by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen at
         once" [syn: {parhelion}, {mock sun}, {sundog}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Parhelion \Par*hel"ion\, n.; pl. {Parhelia}. [L. parelion, Gr.
   ?, ?; para` beside + ? the sun.]
   A mock sun appearing in the form of a bright light, sometimes
   near the sun, and tinged with colors like the rainbow, and
   sometimes opposite to the sun. The latter is usually called
   an {anthelion}. Often several mock suns appear at the same
   time. Cf. {Paraselene}.
   [1913 Webster]