Is this my first sun dog?

[Marvin Jenkins]

Sun about 30 minutes from setting and I noticed a short non curved rainbow at the same elevation as the sun.

There was a high diffuse cirrus and a few small cumulus. I have never seen this before and having recently got into the subject of weather I looked it up in a couple of books.

The description for sun dog looks right but I would appreciate someone’s opinion who has past observations.

Marvin

[Oldfort]

It's what I'd call a sun dog.  There would probably have been another one equidistant on the other side.

[Peter Drew]

I would say that it is borderline between a "sundog" and a small part of a parhelial  arc.   It's in the right position for a sundog but they do tend to be a little more defined.  Nice photo and observation anyway.     🙂

[Marvin Jenkins]

Thank you to the two of you for replies. I apologies for quality of the pictures, in this day an age I have an iPhone6 to hand instead of an Olympus SLR, note not D. I must get get back to living with a camera at all times.

It was very noticeable as I was wearing polarising shades, and just happened look across the garden and thought ‘that is new, I must look that up’.

Astronomy has taught me to observe. I find that observational discipline has morphed into my everyday. I am happy to say my eyesight is extraordinary but I am mostly hearing impaired.

I can honestly say that I can spot Orchids by the roadside from my van as I pass by. 
 

Marv

[david_taurus83]

I have to admit I've never even heard of this phenomenon let alone seen it. There's some amazing pictures on Google! One to look out for! I've seen bright rings or halos around the moon sometimes but never the sun.

[Stu]

Nice shot @Marvin Jenkins. As Peter says, bit of a mix between two features by the looks.

I caught this one some time back.

Wiki has some useful info and good pictures.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog