20th August 2024 – (Chengdu) A video of seven suns appearing in the sky above Chengdu, has gone viral. However, experts have assured the public that the phenomenon is simply an optical illusion.
The video, taken on 18th August, shows multiple suns seemingly clustered together in the sky. The video’s creator, a Chengdu resident, described seeing the phenomenon from multiple angles, even through glass. The “unusual sight” reportedly lasted for about a minute, prompting many onlookers to capture the event.
According to Zeng Yang, vice president of the Sichuan Society for Astronomy Amateur, the phenomenon is a common optical illusion caused by light refracting and reflecting off layered glass. “Each additional layer of glass creates another virtual image,” Zeng explained. “Sometimes, even with the same pane of glass, the number of virtual images can vary depending on the viewing angle.”
The report noted that the multiple suns in the video appear upright and noticeably dimmer, characteristics consistent with the reflection and refraction of light creating virtual images.
