Stunning photos from Sweden captivate the internet: "I've never seen this before. Amazing!"
The Storm Hunters of Lubusz are not just known for their weather updates, they also capture and share magnificent atmospheric phenomena. Recently, their photos featuring 'light pillars' have become a sensation on social media.
10:06 AM EST, November 24, 2023
Light pillars, an optical phenomenon, often appear as towering columns of light reaching skyward.
A sight to behold
Light pillars, predominantly observed during frosty weather, offer a unique spectacle. They're most common in Siberia, Scandinavian countries, and Canada. Therefore, it makes sense that these light pillars have been recently captured in Sweden, where the mercury has dipped to a chilly -22 degrees F.
Light pillars are formed when light beams interact with hexagonal airborne ice crystals. As the light bounces off these crystals, a vertical column extending upward from the light source is formed," the Lubusz Storm Hunters explain in a Facebook post.
The photos have amazed internet users, triggering responses like "I've never heard of this in my life. Amazing!", "Beautiful and interesting phenomenon", and "Something beautiful". Some users have even likened the light pillars to fireworks and lasers in the comments.
Another celestial spectacle
A few days ago, another incredible optical phenomenon was captured in Sweden. Known as a parhelion, or 'sun dog', this event strikingly mirrors a solar halo. There was a moment when three suns appeared to be visible in the Swedish sky. This spectacle occurs when sunlight refracts through high, ice-crystal laden clouds, causing bright semicircles of light to appear on either side of the sun, at an approximately equal distance from it.
The captivating images documenting this extraordinary and rare occurrence were shared on the Lubusz Storm Hunters' Facebook profile.
