light pillars
Ice-crystal columns skyward
Light pillars are vertical columns of light that appear to extend upward from bright light sources, typically seen in very cold weather.
They're optical phenomena caused by ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere reflecting light from streetlamps, the sun, or the moon.
Unlike light beams, they exist only as reflections—the pillar isn't actually there in the sky.
- skyVisible overhead expanse
- night skyDarkness above after sunset
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
- ice crystalsSolid water formations
- spectacleVisually striking event
refraction · clouds · sunsets · reflection · alpenglow · atmosphere · solar corona · winter · cold nights · solar · luminous · columns · vertical · photography · fogbows · moonbows · frozen · aureole
light pillarscircumhorizontal arc
Halo from ice crystals
auroras · rainbows · searchlights · sprites · ball lightning
light pillarssearchlights
Powerful directed illumination devices
laser beams · spotlights · bat signal · stadium lights · floodlights
light, pillar, lights, pillars, lighter, lightest, lightly, lightness, lighten