Scientists Capture Rare Natural Phenomenon in Antarctica (PHOTO)

Ukrainian researchers at the Akademik Vernadsky station on Galindez Island have for the first time recorded nacreous clouds at night under moonlight. The phenomenon, usually observed at dawn or dusk, was captured thanks to a bright Moon against a black sky. Scientists explain the formation of clouds at an altitude of 15–30 km and the process of iridescence.

Ukrainian researchers at the Akademik Vernadsky station, located on Galindez Island, have recorded an extremely rare atmospheric phenomenon—nacreous (polar stratospheric) clouds. According to the National Antarctic Scientific Center, the uniqueness of the image lies in the fact that the rainbow shimmer was captured at night under moonlight—for the first time in the history of observations. Scientists explain that such clouds form at altitudes from 15 to 30 kilometers in the dry stratosphere, where moisture is carried by powerful mountain waves or strong cyclones. When temperatures drop below -50°C, droplets freeze, turning into ice crystals, through which light refracts and splits into spectral colors—a process called iridescence. Usually, the phenomenon is visible at dawn or dusk, but a bright Moon against a black sky created the perfect contrast. Capturing this near Galindez is a stroke of luck, as the weather there is harsh: up to 300 days a year have precipitation, and the sky is overcast. The season at the station is rich in anomalies: earlier, a rare emperor penguin was spotted, and in August, a record-late migration of sub-Antarctic penguins was recorded.