Aurora-like pillar of lights appeared over Sulu skies on the last day of June and netizens snapped photos that went viral on social media.
Amarkhan Jidara, a Volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at Zamboanga Puericulture School of Allied Medicine, posted on July 5 the photos of the natural lights display seen in the night skies of Sulu province in Mindanao.
The Aurora-like lights said to be regularly seen by locals once to twice a year, are referred to by local Tausugs as “Lansuk-Lansuk” or candles.
National Geographic describes the aurora as a natural light display that shimmers in the sky, only visible at night, and usually only appear in lower polar regions.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) explained to media on Monday that the lights display is actually caused by moonlight reflecting off ice crystals in the clouds.
“Ang nangyari kasi dyan, mayroon silang clear skies. ‘Yung manipis na cirrus clouds, mayroong ice crystals. ‘Yun ‘yung nag-reflect ng ilaw galing sa buwan,” PAGASA weather specialist Raymond Ordinario told GMA News Online.
The Sulu skies’ version of the polar lights lasted 20 to 30 minutes because the ice crystals break and cause the gradual disappearance of the reflected pillar of lights.
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TELL US in the comments below about other amazing lights display you have seen over Philippine skies!
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