What caused ‘light pillars’ seen in New England skies?

CONCORD, N.H. – A spectacular sight was seen within the skies over New England Saturday evening.

A number of individuals photographed “gentle pillars” in New Hampshire cities together with Derry, Brentwood, and Exeter. The pillars had been additionally photographed in North Andover.

They’re fashioned when flat, hexagonal-shaped ice crystals mirror lights from the floor. The crystals are usually present in high-level clouds, however when it’s extremely chilly, they discover their approach nearer to the bottom.

WBZ-TV meteorologist Sarah Wroblewski stated Saturday’s circumstances had been excellent for the optical phenomenon.

“Ice crystals might be made up of all types of sizes and styles, however these six-sided ice crystals can stack on prime of one another like a dinner plate, and act like mirrors,” she stated. “When they’re suspended above a lightweight supply close to the bottom like a streetlamp, the sunshine bounces off that flat crystal after which the subsequent one and the subsequent one and so forth, creating this slim column of sunshine beaming into the sky above. So whereas it might seem like aliens are invading from the clouds, the sunshine you see is definitely coming from the bottom. A fairly cool sight to see!”