12月30日の夜、中国の内モンゴル自治区シリンホト市の住民は目がくらむような光景を目の当たりにした。
上空に、魅惑的な光の柱が出現したのだ。まるで地面から光が吹き出したようだった。
人民日報オンライン版は、これは「太陽柱」もしくは「光柱」と呼ばれる現象だと伝えている。
アメリカ航空宇宙局（NASA）によると、この珍しい自然現象は、かなり気温が低い日の出または日没時に、降ってくる氷の結晶が太陽の光を反射して起きる。
NASAのウェブサイトには「上層にある雲から氷が落下する時、平べったい六角板状の氷晶が作られることがあります。その氷晶が地面に向かって舞い落ちる際に、空気抵抗によって地面に対してほぼ水平になります。水平になった氷晶がまんべんなく広がり、それに太陽光が反射すると太陽柱ができます」と書かれています。
この日、シリンホト市の気温は 約−29℃まで下がった。太陽柱ができる完璧な状態だったと、デイリー・テレグラフ紙が伝えている。
この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。
行ってみたい！世界の夕日スポット
(01 of39)
The sun sets on Botafogo bay with the Christ the Reedemer statue on the Corcovado mountain in the background in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 5, 2013. \n\n(CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of39)
\'Manhattanhenge\' on May 29, 2013 in New York City. This semiannual occurrence happens each summer when the setting sun aligns east-west with the street grid of the city. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Havana, Cuba(03 of39)
(Photo by Sven Creutzmann/Mambo Photography/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Hong Kong(04 of39)
Sunset over Kowloon on May 31, 2013 in Hong Kong. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Seoul (05 of39)
A beautiful sunset behind Mt. Namsan and N Seoul Tower in Seoul, Korea (credit:Getty Images)
Colombo, Sri Lanka(06 of39)
A tourist takes a picture at sunset on a beach in Colombo on June 27, 2013. \n\n(LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tiananmen Square(07 of39)
(Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Kruger National Park, South Africa(08 of39)
(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Paris(09 of39)
People walk at sunset on July 9, 2013 under a recently installed set of new stairs in front of the Musee d\'Orsay (unseen) on the left bank low-level quai sides in Paris. \n\n(THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bregenz, Austria(10 of39)
A sunset over the Bodensee (Lake Constance).\n\nPhoto by Johannes Simon/Getty Images (credit:Getty Images)
Santa Monica Pier, California(11 of39)
(credit:Flickr:Maschinenraum)
Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil(12 of39)
(credit:Flickr:Charlie Phillips)
Maldives(13 of39)
(credit:Flickr:odh!)
Cape Town, South Africa(14 of39)
(credit:Flickr:Mediatejack)
Grand Canyon(15 of39)
(credit:Flickr:Vandelizer)
Seregenti, Tanzania(16 of39)
(credit:Flickr:NeilsPhotography)
Sahara Desert(17 of39)
(credit:Flickr:Fighting Irish 1977)
Santorini, Greece(18 of39)
(credit:Flickr:WorldIslandInfo.com)
Kata, Phuket(19 of39)
(credit:Flickr:mst7022)
Outer Banks, North Carolina(20 of39)
(credit:Flickr:.candy)
Hilltop Sunset -- Chelsea, Vermont, US(21 of39)
docwindprod:
An atmospheric sunset from the top of Windswept acres in Chelsea, VT
An atmospheric sunset from the top of Windswept acres in Chelsea, VT
Balanced Rock at Sunset(22 of39)
BobbyV123:
Taken in Arches National Park - Moab, Utah
Taken in Arches National Park - Moab, Utah
Santa Barbara, CA(23 of39)
WavesDream:
Tahiti(24 of39)
Scott Mielke:
Cape Cod MA(25 of39)
organic01:
Herring Cove Beach Provincetown MA
Herring Cove Beach Provincetown MA
Cat Island, Bahamas(26 of39)
RozElite Mgmt:
Sunset Point Hawaii last wave of the day(27 of39)
manfromsnowy:
Sunset Point looking at the Sunset Beach break with Kaena Point in the background last waves of the day .................
Sunset Point looking at the Sunset Beach break with Kaena Point in the background last waves of the day .................
Up in the air off Waikiki(28 of39)
manfromsnowy:
Parasailing tourists
Parasailing tourists
Sunset at Marquis Los Cabos (29 of39)
Ella Messerli:
There are stunning sunsets in Los Cabos almost daily, summer is more pinkish & winter purple, but all spectacular.
There are stunning sunsets in Los Cabos almost daily, summer is more pinkish & winter purple, but all spectacular.
Henley Beach Sth Aust. Australia(30 of39)
Niklas Brett:
Leland, MI(31 of39)
Notgnillas:
Lake Balaton, Hungary(32 of39)
think global act local:
One of the most beautiful sunset locations I have ever seen.
One of the most beautiful sunset locations I have ever seen.
Negril, Jamaica(33 of39)
Felicia Nicole Johnson:
Sunset at Rick\'s Cafe in Negril, Jamaica.
Sunset at Rick\'s Cafe in Negril, Jamaica.
Observatory Hill, The Rocks Sydney Australia(34 of39)
Kerry Beever:
wedding party @ Observatory hill, The Rocks Sydney Australia
wedding party @ Observatory hill, The Rocks Sydney Australia
Waikiki Beach(35 of39)
Kerry Beever:
sunset on waikiki
sunset on waikiki
Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL(36 of39)
wastedvampire:
Sunset over Lake Annecy, French Alps(37 of39)
rj74210:
Seen from the Col de la Forclaz mountain pass in Montmin, sunset can be spectacular especially when there is a lot of pollution over Geneva !
Seen from the Col de la Forclaz mountain pass in Montmin, sunset can be spectacular especially when there is a lot of pollution over Geneva !
Sunset in Elk Island National Park(38 of39)
Graceless:
The still water always makes for incredible sunsets in this prairie national park.\n(photographed by my husband, bwpcoax on flickr)
The still water always makes for incredible sunsets in this prairie national park.\n(photographed by my husband, bwpcoax on flickr)
Oia, Santorini, Greece(39 of39)
Rita Guimaraes:
Stunning sunset in Santorini, Greece, in Feb 2011.
Stunning sunset in Santorini, Greece, in Feb 2011.
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