Residents of Central Alberta in Canada recently witnessed a breathtaking atmospheric display as light pillars illuminated the night sky. These dazzling columns of light seem to emanate from ground-level sources, stretching upwards into the sky and creating an otherworldly, mirror-like illusion. Often misconstrued as paranormal phenomena, these light pillars are in fact a striking natural optical illusion formed by specific winter conditions.
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Light pillar season has begun in Alberta, Canada
— Malinda 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇵🇱🇨🇦🇮🇹🇦🇺🇬🇧🇬🇪🇩🇪🇸🇪 (@TreasChest) November 26, 2024
🔸 Light pillars are caused by light reflecting off ice crystals suspended in the air. This phenomenon occurs in cold places where the temperature allows hexagonal ice crystals to form. For example, these photos were taken at… pic.twitter.com/F3Rk55UXaV
WOW!! Want to see what light pillars look like to the eye?? And close up even?! Taken this morning in Lacombe, Alberta at -20°C#TeamTanner @treetanner @weathernetwork @WeatherNation @weatherchannel @spann pic.twitter.com/IHcjNvYja5
— Dar Tanner (@dartanner) November 26, 2024
Crazy!! I saw these 2 days in a row! This is a 5 shot pano taken in Lacombe, Alberta yesterday morning. #teamtanner #wx@treetanner @mikesobel @weathernetwork @mark_tarello pic.twitter.com/8d6LOZZf1T
— Dar Tanner (@dartanner) November 27, 2024
How are Light pillars formed?
These vertical beams of light are created when light, usually from artificial sources such as streetlights, reflects off hexagonal ice crystals, typically measuring 0.02 mm, suspended in the atmosphere. These plate-shaped crystals behave like tiny mirrors, reflecting light from ground-based sources such as streetlights, building lights, or other artificial illuminations. As the light bounces off the ice crystals, it creates a dazzling, shimmering pillar that appears to stretch high into the sky, producing a breathtaking visual display.
While striking, these light pillars are a natural and scientifically understood phenomenon, unrelated to extraterrestrial activity or other mysterious causes. The winter phenomenon is predominantly witnessed in regions with frigid climates, particularly where temperatures plummet during the winter months. Countries such as Canada, Russia, and parts of Scandinavia offer ideal conditions for this spectacle, with light pillars frequently observed on bitterly cold nights when ice crystals are abundant in the atmosphere.
Light pillars in Tobolsk, Russia, November 2024. pic.twitter.com/0fHiRHFgWm
— Kirill Bakanov (@WeatherSarov1) November 15, 2024
The formation of light pillars demands a precise convergence of meteorological conditions, including extremely cold temperatures ranging from -10° to -40°C, high humidity levels, and calm conditions with virtually no wind.
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