Stargazers in China were taken aback after a video, which recently went viral, appeared to show seven suns in the sky.
The footage, captured earlier this month by a woman named Wang from a hospital in Chengdu, depicted seven bright spots lined up next to each other with varying intensities, creating a surreal scene that many compared to an otherworldly planet.
The video, which lasted about a minute and was visible from multiple angles, quickly engaged viewers. However, what seemed like a cosmic spectacle was actually an optical illusion.
The phenomenon was caused by light refracting through the layered glass of the hospital window, producing what are known as “virtual images.” Each pane of glass contributed to the appearance of a separate sun.
Despite the scientific explanation, social media users had fun speculating about the cause of the “seven suns.” On Weibo, one user joked, “We’ve finally uncovered the truth about global warming,” while another humorously suggested a “magnetic field glitch” had caused parallel universes to overlap, but reassured viewers that “the Cosmic Bureau has fixed the issue.”
The optical illusion also garnered attention on Reddit, where users drew comparisons to the Chinese myth of Hou Yi, a cosmic archer who shot down nine of Earth’s 10 suns to prevent the planet from burning up. One Redditor quipped, “When Earth has astigmatism,” while another humorously questioned if the sight was a “system apocalypse” or a consequence of China’s well-known air pollution issues.
Ultimately, the “seven suns” were a reminder of how easily our senses can be deceived by natural phenomena, sparking a mix of awe, humor, and curiosity among those who witnessed or heard about the event.
