sun pillar; solar pillar
A vertical column of light appearing above or below the sun, caused by reflection from ice crystals in the atmosphere.
夕方、西の空に太陽柱が見えた。
In the evening, a sun pillar was visible in the western sky.
Compound of 太陽 (taiyō, 'sun') + 柱 (chū, 'pillar'), literally 'sun pillar'.