Four moons ‘appear’ in the Moscow sky, causing alarm, although science has the explanation
An unexpected phenomenon in the sky caught people completely by surprise.
The sky always has the power to amaze us, and recently in Russia, many residents of Moscow and Saint Petersburg looked up and could not believe what they were seeing. Four moons appeared in the sky, a phenomenon that left everyone stunned, and images of the event quickly went viral on social media.
What was really happening? Had the Moon actually multiplied? The phenomenon does have an explanation, and to understand it, we need to look more at the atmosphere than at outer space. On extremely cold nights, like those common in places such as Russia, the upper layers of the air can fill with microscopic ice crystals capable of bending light.
An optical effect that transforms what we see in the sky
When the Moon is full or close to full, it can act like a powerful light source. If that light passes through microscopic ice crystals that are oriented in just the right way, it can create an image in which multiple replicas of Earth’s natural satellite appear.
It is purely an optical effect known as paraselene, or a “false moon,” which has a solar counterpart called parahelia. This striking illusion made it possible, in this case, to perceive as many as four moons in the night sky. The atmosphere once again proved its ability to surprise us, showing how weather conditions can transform the heavens. In this instance, a cold night, ice suspended in the air, and clear skies were all required for the phenomenon to occur.
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