TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Residents of Sakhalin, Russia, were recently surprised by an unusual morning sight: three suns shining side by side in the sky.
The phenomenon quickly went viral on social media, sparking curiosity and awe. Despite appearances, the effect was not a cosmic anomaly but a natural atmospheric optical phenomenon known as a sun dog, or parhelion.
Sun dogs are relatively common in Russia, particularly in areas with extreme winter conditions such as Siberia, Sakhalin, and Kamchatka.
The phenomenon occurs when sunlight interacts with hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. These crystals are often found in high-altitude cirrus clouds or as fine ice particles…