anthelion

[ ant-hee-lee-uh n, an-thee- ]
/ æntˈhi li ən, ænˈθi- /

noun, plural ant·he·li·a [ant-hee-lee-uh, an-thee-] /æntˈhi li ə, ænˈθi-/.

a luminous, white spot occasionally appearing at the sun's elevation but in the opposite part of the sky.

Origin of anthelion

1660–70; < Late Greek anthḗlion, neuter of anthḗlios opposite the sun, equivalent to ant- ant- + hḗli(os) the sun + -os adj. suffix

Words nearby anthelion

British Dictionary definitions for anthelion

anthelion
/ (æntˈhiːlɪən, ænˈθiː-) /

noun plural -lia (-lɪə)

a faint halo sometimes seen in polar or high altitude regions around the shadow of an object cast onto a thick cloud bank or fog
a white spot occasionally appearing on the parhelic circle at the same height as and opposite to the sun

Word Origin for anthelion

C17: from Late Greek, from anthēlios opposite the sun, from ante- + hēlios sun

Scientific definitions for anthelion

anthelion
[ ănt-hēlē-ən, ăn-thē- ]

Plural anthelia

A bright white or colored spot appearing at times in the sky opposite the Sun. White anthelia are believed to form from light that is reflected off atmospheric ice crystals; colored anthelia are believed to form from light that is refracted by atmospheric ice crystals. Compare parhelion.