An astonishing phenomenon quietly appears as daylight fades. In the sky, a shimmering cross suddenly manifests, compelling onlookers to pause and gaze. However, this is not a true cross, but rather a marvelous creation of nature. When the sun approaches the horizon, its rays pass through ice crystal sheets in the atmosphere, creating a unique play of light and shadow. The ice crystals reflect sunlight that has already dipped below the horizon, forming a brilliant beam of light that shoots straight up into the sky, intersecting with the sun's vertical halo, thus outlining a massive cross shape against the dimming sky. If this occurs during a sunset filled with colorful clouds, the beam appears like a glimmering sword, making it even more captivating.
This natural wonder, although gradually unveiled by science, still leaves ordinary people feeling puzzled and amazed. Each year, professional meteorologists can only witness such halo phenomena a few dozen times, and the more complex and varied halos are exceedingly rare. Therefore, when everyday individuals encounter this solar spectacle in their daily lives, it is only natural for them to feel both bewildered and intrigued.
We have witnessed the unpredictable dance of sunlight in the atmosphere, making the sun itself seem elusive and mysterious.
