Light Pillars, Arctic Russia

Image by Boris Borisovich ( journal) on the Kola Peninsula. Mount Yukspor in the Khibiny Massif is central.

Hexagonal plate crystals drifting in the subzero air reflect the distant ground lights towards the eye and camera. Their collective glints give the illusion of upward pillars of light.

The crystals generating the 'pillars' are approximately mid way between the ground light and the eye.

Image ©Boris Borisovich, shown with permission
Atmospheric
Optics
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