Why do I see two suns?

You are likely experiencing an optical illusion caused by atmospheric phenomena. Our solar system only has one sun.

Sundogs: The Illusion of Multiple Suns

The most common reason for seeing what appears to be two or more suns is an atmospheric phenomenon called a sundog, also known as a parhelion. According to research on February 23, 2023, sundogs are caused by the refraction of sunlight by ice crystals in the Earth's atmosphere.

How Sundogs Form

• Ice Crystals: Sundogs form when sunlight passes through hexagonal plate-shaped ice crystals suspended in the air. These crystals act like prisms.
• Refraction: As sunlight passes through the ice crystals, it is bent or refracted.
• Appearance: This refraction creates bright spots of light on either side of the sun, appearing as "mock suns." These are the sundogs.

Characteristics of Sundogs

• They typically appear as bright, colorful spots to the left and right of the sun.
• They are usually seen when the sun is low on the horizon.
• They often have a reddish hue on the side closest to the sun and a bluish hue on the side farther from the sun.

Other Atmospheric Phenomena

While sundogs are the most common explanation, other atmospheric phenomena can sometimes contribute to similar illusions, although they are less frequent.

Here's a summary in table format:

Seeing "two suns" is almost always due to a sundog or similar atmospheric effect, not the presence of another star in our solar system.