Following reports of "twin suns," a breathtaking and exceptionally rare phenomenon known to the scientific community as a paraselene has transformed the night in Moscow into a scene from a science fiction film. Residents were left stunned as the sky was illuminated by three moons simultaneously, creating an eerie and imposing spectacle.
The scientific explanation behind the illusion
Despite the terrifying beauty of the event, this is not a literal multiplication of Earth’s natural satellite, but a complex optical illusion. A paraselene, or "moon dog," is created by the refraction and reflection of moonlight within the atmosphere. Specifically, moonlight passes through flat, hexagonal ice crystals suspended at high altitudes. These crystals act as "natural prisms," splitting the light and forming two additional bright spots, known as "mock moons," to the left and right of the real moon.
Ideal conditions for a polar phenomenon
The conditions prevailing in Moscow—biting cold and the presence of thin ice clouds—were ideal for this phenomenon, which is typically seen only in polar regions. Its appearance over such a large urban center is considered extremely rare and has sparked intense interest among meteorologists and astronomers worldwide.
The ‘family’ of sundogs
The paraselene belongs to the same category of atmospheric phenomena as "parhelia" (or sundogs), which appear during the day around the sun. While it poses absolutely no danger to residents, the rare aesthetic beauty of the event provided unique footage for photographers and observers, reminding us of the awe nature can inspire when it plays with light.
The ‘ghost moons’ of Siberia
Prior to the Moscow appearance, similar images were recorded in the regions of Yakutsk and Novosibirsk, where temperatures plunged below -40°C. There, the paraselene did not merely create two "mock moons" but an entire luminous halo ring surrounding the night sky, giving the impression that Earth was located in another galaxy.
The geography of the cold and the ‘gates’ of heaven
Photographers in Russia’s northern territories report that the phenomenon is so intense that the "mock moons" possess nearly the same luminosity as the actual moon, confusing even the most advanced night-vision equipment.
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Arkhangelsk: A paraselene was recorded in combination with the Northern Lights, creating a rare cocktail of colors that locals called a "sign of the times."
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Murmansk Region: Due to the polar night, the phenomenon lasted several hours, allowing scientists to study the tilt of ice crystals in the upper troposphere.
???A rare phenomenon — a “paraselene” — was observed overnight over Moscow and the surrounding region
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 31, 2026
A paraselene, an optical illusion in which multiple Moon disks appear, occurs when light from the real Moon is refracted by flat ice crystals high in the atmosphere above the… pic.twitter.com/mRfzRu1Ilb
Why was Moscow the big surprise?
The rarity of this appearance in the Russian capital lies in the levels of atmospheric pollution and light pollution. Usually, these phenomena are "washed out" by city lights. However, the air clarity during this specific freezing night was such that it allowed the crystals to act like a giant mirror over the Kremlin.
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