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Image by Aymen Ibrahem (Night Sky over Egypt) of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt. ©Aymen Ibrahem, shown with permission.


The 4500 year old bulk of the pyramid of Pharaoh Khafra (Chephren) shields the sun to reveal a sun dog, a 22 degree halo and a hinted upper tangent arc.

Ancient Egyptians recognised several manifestations of the sun god Ra, Ra-Herakhty of the rising sun, Ra-Atum of the setting sun and Aten the solar disk. Strangely, there is no acknowledgement of the blindingly bright sundogs or parhelia that must at times have accompanied Ra on his daily journey across the sky.


Sun Dogs