Introduction

Have you ever watched the sunrise and felt like you were witnessing something truly out of this world? Imagine looking towards the horizon at dawn and seeing not one but three suns lighting up the sky. This rare and beautiful spectacle, known as a Triple Sunrise, is not a scene from a science fiction movie but a real atmospheric phenomenon that can be observed from various parts of the world. This article explores what Triple Sunrises are, and how they occur, and shares tips on how you can witness this awe-inspiring event yourself.

What Exactly Are Sun Dogs?

Sun dogs are a type of atmospheric phenomenon that appears as a pair of brightly colored spots on either side of the Sun. These spots are part of a family of visual phenomena known as halos, created by sunlight refracting, or bending, as it passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere. You’ll find these ice crystals mainly in cirrostratus clouds at high altitudes where the temperatures are cold enough to freeze water vapor in the air and this makes sun dogs more frequently observed in colder regions.

The name ‘sun dog’ comes from an old saying that these bright spots in the sky are like loyal dogs following the sun.  In a way, they guard the sun, staying fixed in the sky at a specific angle as the Earth rotates. The colorful appearance of sun dogs is due to light dispersion. They typically exhibit a range of colors with red visible closest to the sun and blue further away—similar to how we see colors in a rainbow, which also results from the dispersion of sunlight.

The Science Behind Sun Dogs

Sun dogs are a captivating sight. They happen when sunlight bends or refracts through ice crystals in the air. These ice crystals are much like tiny prisms. They catch the sunlight and bend it at an angle of 22 degrees. This bending creates the illusion of two extra suns on either side of the real sun. These ice crystals have six sides, looks like plates or columns, and are very important for the formation of sun dogs. They float down through the air, staying flat as they fall. As sunlight passes through the crystals, it changes direction. This is what makes sun dogs appear in the sky.

In the image below, you can see how the sunlight travels through the ice crystals. The white dashed lines show the sunlight’s path. It enters one side of the crystal and exits the other side, having been redirected along the way. The bending is always at the same angle. This is why sun dogs always show up in the same spots in the sky. When the light comes out of the crystals, it makes two bright spots. These are the sun dogs. They can be bright like the sun and sometimes show colours like red and orange. The exact appearance of sun dogs depends on the shape of the ice crystals and how they’re aligned in the air. In most cases, flat and hexagonal ice crystals create a clearer appearance of a sun dog. The more uniformly these crystals are aligned, the more distinct the sun dogs will appear.

So, sun dogs are like a natural painting in the sky. They need just the right mix of sunlight and ice. If you look when the sun is low, like early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you might see them. They are a beautiful show of three suns, all because of light, ice, and the way they interact.

Where and When to See Sun Dogs

You can see sun dogs all over the world, but they are easier to spot and look much brighter in cold places like Scandinavia, Canada, and Russia during the winter. The best time to catch them is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is when the sun is not too high in the sky, and the angle is just right for sunlight to pass through the ice crystals in the air, creating the sun dog’s light show. These bright spots next to the sun usually mean there are cirrostratus clouds high up in the atmosphere. These clouds are thin and full of ice crystals that help make sun dogs.

For your best chance to see a sun dog, choose a day when the sky is clear, especially after a cold night. A spot where your view isn’t blocked by tall buildings or lots of trees will give you a full view of the horizon where sun dogs like to appear. These spots of light, with their soft colors, are like a natural work of art in the sky, reminding us just how beautiful our planet can be.

Conclusion

Sun dogs show a simple yet stunning interaction of sunlight with ice in our sky. They’re a clear sign of how nature can surprise us with beautiful scenes. When you catch a glimpse of what looks like three suns at sunrise, it’s a moment that connects you to the beauty of the world. Whether you are a seasoned photographer, a science enthusiast, or simply a lover of natural wonders, witnessing a Triple Sunrise can be a profoundly moving experience. So, the next time you’re up with the sun, look out across the horizon. You might see the special sight of a Triple Sunrise, where it looks like three suns are coming up at once. It’s one of those sights that makes an ordinary morning feel extraordinary.

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