Subsun

<h2 id="formation">Formation</h2>
<p>The subsun <a href="/facts/Optical_phenomenon/d0nGfmhT">phenomena</a> appears when a region of hexagonal <a href="/facts/Ice_crystals/By1nPMgF">ice crystals</a> act as a large <a href="/facts/Mirror/wMu4u6BB">mirror</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> creating a <a href="/facts/Virtual_image/hldBr4zj">virtual image</a> of the Sun below the <a href="/facts/Horizon/LxwxWfC2">horizon</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> As they fall through the air, the ice forms plate crystals<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> which orient horizontally, i.e., with their hexagonal surfaces parallel to the <a href="/facts/Earth/HLLmDfj0">Earth</a>'s surface. When they are disturbed by <a href="/facts/Turbulence/NpgFUhG5">turbulence</a>, the plates "wobble", causing their surfaces to deviate some degrees from the ideal horizontal orientation, and causing the reflection (i.e., the subsun) to become elongated<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> vertically.
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<h2 id="deformations">Deformations</h2>
<p>When the subsun is stretched far enough vertically, it can become a vertical column known as a lower <a href="/facts/Light_pillar/6PmLXfvN">sun pillar</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> A sun pillar is a form of light pillar.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
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<h2 id="examples-images">Examples (Images)</h2>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Crown_flash/6eEgSL9q">Crown flash</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Sun_dog/1grRgRpC">Sun dog</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)/QgmnIgWQ">Halo</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Light_pillar/6PmLXfvN">Sun Pillar/Light Pillar</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Naylor (2002). Out of the Blue. Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. pp. 140, 152–154. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Out_of_the_Blue/ZQOJGerV2IcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/books/edition/Out_of_the_Blue/ZQOJGerV2IcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Greenler (1989). Rainbows, Halos, and Glories. Press Syndicate o/ UoC. pp. 65–68, 73–74. <a href="/wiki/Robert_G._Greenler" target="_blank">/wiki/Robert_G._Greenler</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Tape (1990). Atmospheric Halos. American Geophysical Union. p. 69. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Atmospheric_Halos/1Wo18IA7C1AC?gbpv=1" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/books/edition/Atmospheric_Halos/1Wo18IA7C1AC?gbpv=1</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Naylor (2002). Out of the Blue. Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. pp. 140, 152–154. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Out_of_the_Blue/ZQOJGerV2IcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/books/edition/Out_of_the_Blue/ZQOJGerV2IcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Greenler (1989). Rainbows, Halos, and Glories. Press Syndicate o/ UoC. pp. 65–68, 73–74. <a href="/wiki/Robert_G._Greenler" target="_blank">/wiki/Robert_G._Greenler</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Greenler (1989). Rainbows, Halos, and Glories. Press Syndicate o/ UoC. pp. 65–68, 73–74. <a href="/wiki/Robert_G._Greenler" target="_blank">/wiki/Robert_G._Greenler</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Tape (1990). Atmospheric Halos. American Geophysical Union. p. 69. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Atmospheric_Halos/1Wo18IA7C1AC?gbpv=1" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/books/edition/Atmospheric_Halos/1Wo18IA7C1AC?gbpv=1</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Subsun open-in-new

Subsun