RESIDENTS in a Russian city witnessed an optical illusion in the dawn sky which created a triple sunrise on Wednesday.

People in the western city of helyabinsk saw what looked like three suns appearing over the horizon, with many sharing photos of the sight on social media, the state news agency Tass reported.

According to a meteorologist, the “halo” effect was caused by ice crystals in the air which refract the sunlight. The crystals, which are invisible to the naked eye, were the product of a particularly chilly morning, with temperatures around -25C, said the region’s chief weather forecaster. A few days earlier, locals had another unexpected sight when blue-tinged snow covered the city’s streets. While some people feared the unexplained hue might have been dangerous, there turned out to be a sweeter explanation.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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