I remember first hearing the term “Sun Dog” was when I was a kid after my mother pointed one out.  It was a chilly winter day and we were traveling along a barren, Saskatchewan highway.  Up in the clear blue sky was a bright spot that appeared very much like a mini-rainbow.  Truth be told, it was not a particularly spectacular sight, but term ‘Sun Dog’ stuck with me as one of those quaint rural terms.

It’s not until now, years later, that the term came back to mind when I saw a truly spectacular version up here in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

A little research will tell you that a Sun Dog is an atmospheric affect that can occur on very cold but clear days when ice particles in the air align in a certain manner.  Light from the the sun refracts through the ice crystals and creates bright spots in the sky along, with a mini rainbow, at 22.5 degrees on either side of the sun.  The effect can range from being a faded smudge to a full fledged pair of bright spots with a rainbow halo that encircles the entire sun.

It can get pretty cold up here Grande Prairie, Alberta, with the temperature regularly going between -20C and -30C (-4F to -22F) or colder.  It wasn’t till a few days ago that I saw a Sun Dog, but it was truly a spectacular sight to behold.

One afternoon, while engaged in trivial matters, I by chance looked up out the window.  There, in the clear blue sky was an abnormally bright spot which immediately commanded my attention.  I instantly reached for a camera and snapped a few photos.  Here you can see the sun to the left and the sun dog to the right.  In theory, there should have been another Sun Dog to the left of the sun, but my view was blocked on that side.

At any rate, I was quite impressed by the sight, although if you do a quick Google search you’ll see much more impressive pictures with a full halo.  Check it out and keep an eye up for those sun dogs.