Paraselene, also known as "moon dogs," describes a bright spot that appears on either side of the moon, caused by the reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light through numerous ice crystals in the atmosphere. Synonyms for paraselene reflect its appearance and associations, such as lunar halos, moonbows, and moon arcs. It is also known as a lunar corona, which describes the circular shape of the phenomenon, as well as ice bows, which refers to the ice crystals that create the effect. Other synonyms include noctilucent clouds, which form at higher altitudes and reflect the moon's light, and rainbow clouds, which have a similar appearance to paraselene but occur during the day.