Residents of North Ossetia reported seeing a 'mountain ghost' in the…
Residents of North Ossetia reported seeing a 'mountain ghost' in the form of a large, floating silhouette on a mountain slope, which was later identified as a rare optical phenomenon known as the Brocken spectre or glory. The effect occurs when a person's shadow is projected onto clouds or fog below while facing away from the sun.
Consensus
- The sighting in North Ossetia involved a large, floating human-like silhouette on a mountain slope.
- The phenomenon was identified as an optical illusion rather than supernatural activity.
- It occurs when a person stands with their back to the sun and their shadow is projected onto clouds or fog.
- The effect can create a glowing, rainbow-colored halo around the shadow, known as glory in meteorology.
- The phenomenon is also referred to as the Brocken spectre, named after its frequent occurrence on the Brocken mountain in Germany.
Points of divergence
- The effect can cause visual changes such as moving or shifting proportions of the silhouette due to air movement and cloud density variations. — vm
- Other optical phenomena like mirages were observed in different locations, including on the Baltic Sea near Kaliningrad and over the Sea of Azov in October 2025, with ships appearing to float in mid-air. — vm
- A professor from the Institute of Space Research mentioned a separate phenomenon where the Moon appears reddish due to high air humidity. — vm
Coverage (3 sources)
- People in the Mountains of Ossetia Saw a 'Mountain Ghost' — РИАМО
- Mountain Ghost Seen in Ossetia — Вести
- Brocken's Ghost Captured in the Mountains of North Ossetia — Вечерняя Москва