Middle Tennessee residents treated to meteorological phenomenon known as sundog

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Residents and drivers around the mid-state Tuesday evening were treated to a very cool meteorological phenomenon known as a sundog.

The patch of light in the sky seen on either side of the setting sun was caused by sunlight refracted by ice crystals says FOX 17 Chief Meteorologist Katy Morgan.

According to Live Science, the crystals sink through the air and becaome vertically aligned, refracting the sunlight horizontally, causing the sundog. Sundogs in the science community are called parhelia, which stems from the Greek word parelion that means "beside the sun."

There is a sundog on either side of the sun when the phenomenon occurs. Depending on your vantage point, you were able to see one or both as the sun set yesterday evening.