Seven suns in the sky? Viral video shows breathtaking optical illusion in China

Stargazers in China were amazed when a video that recently went viral appeared to show seven suns in the sky.
The footage, taken earlier this month by a woman named Wang from a hospital in Chengdu, shows seven bright spots arranged next to each other with different intensities, creating a surreal scene Many compared it to an alien planet.
The video, which lasted about a minute and was shown from several angles, quickly captivated viewers. However, what seemed like a cosmic spectacle was actually a optical illusion.
The phenomenon was caused by the refraction of light in the multi-layered glass of the hospital window, creating 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 have finally uncovered the truth about global warming,” while another humorously suggested that a “magnetic field error” caused the overlap of parallel universes, but assured viewers that “the Cosmic Bureau has fixed the problem.”
The optical illusion also attracted attention on Reddit, where users drew comparisons to the Chinese myth of Hou Yi, a cosmic archer who shot down nine of Earth's ten suns to prevent the planet from burning up. One Redditor quipped, “If the Earth has astigmatism,” while another humorously asked whether the sight was a “system apocalypse” or a result of China's well-known air pollution problems.
Ultimately, the “seven suns” were a reminder of how easily our senses can be deceived by natural phenomena, and evoked a mixture of awe, humor, and curiosity in those who witnessed or heard about the event.