Ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere sometimes align just right to create various striking visual effects, from a halo around ...

The best time to try to see a sun dog is when there are cirrus clouds in the sky and around sunrise or sunset. Also, this weather phenomenon is more likely to happen during the cold winter months.

Ray Petelin Just like your dogs, Sun dogs have some different names. The National Weather Service said they are also known as "mock suns" or "parhelia" which means "with the Sun".

In winter, sun dogs usually happen when the sun comes out after a blizzard or after blowing snow. It is suspended snowflakes in the air that cause the refraction of light.