Friday, August 23, 2024, 1:45 p.m.
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Just a few days ago, a striking phenomenon occurred in the Chinese city of Chengdu, leaving residents speechless and many users who saw the photos and videos on social media. It looked like something out of a science fiction movie. Similar to the sunset on the planet Tatooine in the Star Wars universe with two suns or the three moons that act as satellites in Stargate. But far from being a supernatural event, it is an optical phenomenon called parhelion.
Also known as a ‘false sun’ or ‘solar dog’, it is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when sunlight is refracted by ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. These crystals are commonly found in cirrostratus clouds, which are thin, high clouds formed at altitudes above 6,000 meters.
As a result, the refraction of light through these crystals creates the illusion of several “suns” aligned around the real sun, which made it seem as if there were a total of seven suns at sunset in Chengdu, leaving a memorable image in the city.
Parhelion does not occur anywhere in the world. In fact, it would be almost impossible for it to occur in Spain. This is because it requires a very cold climate, where atmospheric conditions allow the presence of ice crystals in the clouds, which is why the polar regions are more likely to witness this phenomenon.
False suns are usually seen at dawn or dusk, when the sun is low on the horizon, as was the case in Chengdu. However, they can also appear during the day, especially in winter.
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