“A portal to another dimension? Today at Cathedral Hill. Nature always surprising, snow glass flying, and the rays of the Sun filtering in the cloud!” –Gaby Chavez
Photographer Gaby Chavez recently captured a mesmerizing optical spectacle resembling an “interdimensional portal.” The incredible footage was taken at the picturesque ski resort Cerro Catedral in Patagonia, located in southern Argentina, and shared on her Instagram.
The video showcases a circular, radiant “portal” suspended in mid-air, enchantingly adorning the snowy slopes of the ski resort. Despite its otherworldly appearance, this optical marvel is scientifically identified as a subsun, a phenomenon generated by the sun’s reflection on a cloud of ice crystals.
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This captivating effect can only be observed from an aerial perspective and occurs precisely below the sun. Sunlight reflects off tiny ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere, giving rise to an intriguing halo in the air.
In her Instagram post, Chavez eloquently described how the ice crystals behave like mirrors, reflecting the sunlight, and elaborated on their hexagonal plate-like structure, which plays a crucial role in creating various optical phenomena. The orientation of these crystals in the atmosphere, coupled with factors like the angle of their facets, determines the specific type of optical spectacle witnessed.
These enchanting optical phenomena are commonly observed in chilly regions with exceptionally clear conditions. In such atmospheric conditions, the ice crystals facilitate the passage of sunlight, giving rise to these mesmerizing displays. Often, passengers aboard airplanes get a privileged view of these wonders, peering down below where the ice crystals gracefully hover in the atmosphere.