Austrian ski slopes light up with stunning sun dog display
On social media, various profiles are sharing a video from Austria. It depicts an extraordinary optical phenomenon captured on one of the ski slopes. This phenomenon, known as a sun dog, has intrigued many internet users, who liken it to a portal.
A Brocken spectre in the mountains, "flying" ships over the Baltic Sea, and even "magical" hills in the Lublin region, where the laws of physics seem to defy explanation, are just a few astonishing phenomena. The film from Austria adds to this collection with an intriguing optical illusion. So, what exactly is a sun dog, and when can it be observed?
Sun dog in Austria
Millions of internet users have already seen the film from Austria. On platform X, the video is being widely shared by various profiles. Although it dates back to the end of January, it continues to attract significant attention online. This is not surprising, as the phenomenon captured in the film has intrigued viewers.
The sun dog recorded in Austria is actually a halo phenomenon, occurring in the atmosphere and observed around the solar disc in a specific form. In the film, you can clearly see an elongated, bright spot below the Sun. The shimmering ice crystals reflecting sunlight contribute to the uniqueness of this phenomenon.
How is a Sun dog formed?
Certain weather conditions need to be present for a sun dog to form. The atmosphere must contain a large number of flat ice crystals. When these crystals are oriented horizontally, sunlight reflects off them, creating an elongated mirage, known as a sun dog, below the Sun.
This phenomenon is not easily observed. The best conditions occur when the observer is above the cloud layer containing the necessary ice crystals. An airplane can provide a suitable vantage point for viewing a sun dog. However, as shown by the example from Austria, the phenomenon can also be observed in high mountain areas.
