Viral video shows '7 suns' blazing in the sky: the atmospheric illusion of 'sun dogs'

The 'seven suns' optical illusion. (Images: screengrab from video @cheguwera/X)

Stargazers in China recently witnessed what appeared to be seven suns blazing in the sky—a phenomenon that quickly went viral online. The footage, captured by a woman identified as Wang, a visitor at a Chengdu hospital, showcased the surreal sight of the seven celestial bodies seemingly aligned in a row, each varying in intensity.

Wang described the scene as "mesmerising," noting that it held viewers spellbound for nearly a minute. The incredible view, she said, was visible from multiple angles, leaving many to wonder if they were witnessing a cosmic anomaly.

Watch the video below:

In an Asian country, 7 suns appeared as a result of the refraction of light.pic.twitter.com/sQXjbx3nq1Figen (@TheFigen_) August 20, 2024

This phenomenon, known as a "sun dog" or "parhelion," is a type of atmospheric optical illusion. Sun dogs occur when sunlight interacts with ice crystals in the Earth's atmosphere, typically in cirrus or cirrostratus clouds, which are high-altitude clouds composed of hexagonal ice crystals.

When sunlight passes through these ice crystals, it is refracted, or bent, at a specific angle, usually 22 degrees from the sun. This refraction creates bright spots on either side of the sun, which can sometimes appear as multiple suns depending on the concentration and orientation of the ice crystals.

Social media platforms in China, particularly Weibo, were abuzz with theories and jokes about the event. One user humorously commented, "We’ve finally uncovered the truth about global warming," while another quipped, "This happened because of a magnetic field glitch that made parallel universes visibly manifest."

The phenomenon also gained traction on Reddit, where users offered their own witty takes. "When Earth has astigmatism," one joked.