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

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:
However, despite the otherworldly appearance, experts have clarified that this is not an astronomical phenomenon but rather an optical illusion. The peculiar alignment of the suns was caused by the refraction of light through the layered glass of the hospital windows, creating virtual images of the sun on each pane.

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.