Support The Moscow Times!

Triple Sunrise Dazzles Northern Russia, in Pictures

meteora_ksu / Instagram

Early risers in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district were treated to an enchanting illusion of three glowing suns on Wednesday morning.

The phenomenon is caused by tiny ice crystals refracting the light into the sky.

Local residents captured the optical illusion — also known as sundog and parhelion — and shared it on Instagram.

But while social media users were left in awe of the three celestial bodies, local residents took the trick of the light in their stride.

“I can’t say it’s rare in the district,” Artyom Koshkin, the head of the regional weather service, told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency on Wednesday.

The effects of the refracted light make for pleasant driving. 

And so the region's winter landscape is transformed by this meteorological curiosity.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more