View: The 'Sun Dog' Also Rises Over Chicago

By John Dodge

CHICAGO (CBS) -- When it gets this cold, at least there are some interesting weather phenomenon to go with frigid temperatures.

Consider the sun dog, for instance.

Jackie Novak of Hammond, Ind., took this picture (above) of the sunrise in Matteson, while on her way to work on Friday morning.

It appears that the sun has spawned a few baby suns, attached by a golden rainbow.

What is happening is an optical illusion.

It is actually a reflection of sunlight off the ice crystals in the clouds. It's common in the Arctic, and it sometimes gets cold enough here to create the same thing.

The recipe for a sun dog:

1) Ample sunlight, best in the morning.

2) Ice crystals

3) Wispy cirrus clouds

4) Cold temperatures