The Eye in the Sky: When Nature Gets a Little Too Cosmic

Have you ever gazed skyward and thought, “Is that a giant magical being watching me, or did I just forget to take my vitamins again?”

Fear not, my friends, you’re not losing your marbles—you’re likely witnessing one of nature’s rare light shows, where the heavens seem to pop in and say, “Hello!”

Picture this: a crisp night in the Ore Mountains of the Czech Republic, when a bright Moon rises through ice fog-filled air. What could go wrong? Well, nothing, unless you’re terrified of giant celestial eyes staring down at you! Welcome to the phenomenon known as diamond dust—a term that sounds like it should be part of a rapper’s stage name, yet is dangerously close to redefining the atmospheric experience.

Now, let’s break it down: diamond dust refers to those tiny ice crystals that flitter about in the air like they’re in a dance-off with the wind. These crystals are geometrically shaped, which means they possess that perfect angle to reflect light—in this case, the light from our beloved Sun or Moon—like a disco ball on a suburban Saturday night. The result? A dazzling display of halos and unusual arcs, which can sometimes create the illusion of a gigantic eye peering down at us mere mortals. It’s as if nature decided to channel its inner artist, creating a cosmic masterpiece.

Last week, the good folks in the Ore Mountains got a front-row seat to this enchanting spectacle. Alongside the moon’s glowing majesty, they enjoyed the mesmerizing company of moon dogs, tangent arcs, halos, and even a parhelic circle. If you’re not well-versed in atmospheric phenomena, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Just think of it as nature’s version of letting loose at a discotheque, with light pillars soaring above distant lights on the far left, while the ever-credible celestial duo, Jupiter and Mars, hang out just beneath the illustrious 22-degree halo.
Image via NASA https://ift.tt/epG5ES3