Thanks Ving m8
sundogs is also known as a parhelia and mock suns -
They occur when the angle of the dangle is just right - usually late afternoon for us here in adders when the sun is low enough. they are trickily probably more common then we realise, as most people dont look near the sun for obvious reasons. i deliberately look for them of course (not that i look evryday - but fairly regularly, when conditions are right) - best way is block out sun with your hand and check at the right distances away (around 22º) and near horizontal to sun, say from 3-4-5pm till late.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki did a spot in his foxtel weather spot on sundogs once - and he loves em, and mentioned that easter is weirdly always a good time for him to see them - and he is dead right - never failed to see some around that time at this latitude.
here's some websites on them
http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/parhelia.htm
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...os/sundog.html
the best ones arent produced by messy thick cirrus like i had - the best are when the cirrus/ice is very thin and transparent - i have only seen one or two good displays in many many years at this latitude, the best was my first - was playing tennis with mates and the one spectating noticed there was three suns!!! there were very very bright, indeed close in brightness to the sun - they werent the usual rainbow ones - they were bright white like the sun is to our eyes - never forget that one :-)))
edit: PS in history there has been some rare displays with up to 5 mock suns at once
