Paraselenes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Bright spots or luminous patches that sometimes appear on either side of the Moon due to atmospheric ice crystals ; also referred to as mock moons or lunar halos
2. Optical phenomena resembling bright, moonlike images that form beside the Moon, resulting from the refraction of moonlight through cirrus cloud ice crystals ; commonly known as mock moons
3. Atmospheric illusions where pale, glowing points appear to the left and right of the Moon as a result of light passing through high-altitude ice particles ; sometimes called mock moons or lunar parhelia

Etymology: The term paraselenes refers to the atmospheric optical phenomenon commonly known as "moon dogs," which appear as bright spots or mock moons flanking the real moon. This word derives from the Greek roots "para-" meaning "beside" or "near," and "selene," the name of the Greek goddess of the moon. Thus, paraselenes literally translate to "beside the moon," perfectly capturing the visual effect of these luminous spots appearing near the lunar disk. The concept of paraselenes arises from the refraction of moonlight through hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the upper atmosphere, a process that bends light to create these distinct, halo-like bright patches. While the phenomenon itself has likely been observed by humans for millennia, the precise term entered scientific and meteorological vocabulary relatively recently, as astronomers and atmospheric scientists sought to classify and describe various halo effects around celestial bodies. The root "selene" has long been a poetic and scientific reference to the moon, with the goddess Selene personifying the moon in ancient Greek mythology. This connection enriches the term by linking the natural spectacle to cultural and mythological traditions. The prefix "para-" is a common element in scientific terminology, used to indicate proximity or adjacency, as in "paranormal" or "parathyroid." In English, paraselenes appears primarily in specialized texts related to meteorology, astronomy, and optical phenomena, reflecting the 19th and 20th centuries’ growing interest in categorizing atmospheric optics. While the word remains relatively obscure outside scientific circles, its construction follows a clear pattern of Greek derivation that aids in understanding its meaning and the phenomenon it describes.

Synonyms: moon mocks, mock moons, moon halos, lunar halos