Portuguese 
Sighted in Maze, in the Tottori Prefecture, the light pillars caught attention for appearing as vertical beams suspended over the horizon; however, the phenomenon is linked to night fishing, when intense lights used to attract squid and fish have their light reflected by ice crystals in the local cold atmosphere.
Nine light pillars appeared in the night sky of Tottori Prefecture, Japan, in footage that began circulating on social media, capturing the attention of local residents and internet users. The vertical beams appeared to rise from the horizon, stretching several meters upwards, creating an image that was quickly associated with UFOs and other extraordinary phenomena.
According to a video published by the YouTube channel Fatos Desconhecidos on May 24, 2024, the images of the light pillars gained traction for showing seemingly motionless luminous columns in the sky. Despite interpretations linking them to UFOs, the explanation presented relates the phenomenon to fishing boats and ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.
Nine Light Pillars Seemed Suspended Over the Horizon
Seen from a distance, the light pillars formed a sequence of bright vertical stripes in the dark sky. The distance to the light source made it difficult to immediately perceive where those columns were originating.
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The further away the observer was, the stranger the formation appeared. The nine luminous stripes gave the impression of remaining isolated in the sky, with no evident connection to poles, buildings, or any other terrestrial structure.
Unusual Appearance Fueled Comments About UFOs
The absence of an immediate visual explanation opened the door to various interpretations on social media. Some users associated the lights with aliens, UFOs, and possible signals from space.
Local residents also reportedly expressed surprise at the phenomenon. However, there was no evidence of extraterrestrial activity: the columns were related to a known atmospheric optical phenomenon, produced when certain light sources encounter specific conditions in the atmosphere.
The Explanation for the Light Pillars Was in the Sea
The origin of the lighting was not in space, but in vessels used for night fishing. Japanese fishermen employ high-intensity lamps to attract squid and other fish to the surface, facilitating the activity at sea.
On certain nights, this lighting can interact with ice crystals present in the atmosphere. It is this combination of a very intense artificial source and specific natural conditions that can produce the light pillars observed from great distances.
Boats Use Strong Lamps to Attract Squid and Fish
This technique is directly related to traditional night fishing practices in Japan. The vessels use intense lighting because different marine species can be attracted by the brightness near the surface.
Under normal conditions, those who are far away can only see part of the glow caused by the boats. However, when the atmosphere has the right ice crystals, the same lighting can take on a completely different dimension for those observing the horizon.
Ice Crystals Function as Small Reflectors
The light pillars depend on the presence of small ice crystals suspended in the air. Under suitable conditions, these crystals are oriented in a way that can reflect the incoming light.
The visual effect makes it appear as though a continuous column of light extends vertically into the sky. In reality, there is no massive solid beam occupying that space: the observer perceives light reflected by numerous crystals positioned in the atmosphere.
Cold and Calm Atmosphere Favor the Phenomenon
The formation does not occur simply because there are illuminated boats in the ocean. A specific combination of atmospheric factors is necessary for the effect to become visible.
Among the cited conditions are low temperatures, the presence of ice crystals, and a relatively calm atmosphere. Therefore, the pillars do not appear every night when fishermen use lamps.
Origin is Artificial, but Optical Effect is Natural
The event comprises two different components. The initial source of lighting is artificial, produced by the lamps used on the vessels during fishing.
The transformation of this lighting into enormous light pillars depends on the atmosphere. Without the ice crystals positioned favorably, the same lamps would continue to burn at sea, but the large columns would likely not be seen in the sky.
The Phenomenon Should Not Be Confused with the Aurora Borealis
The luminous appearance may remind some of the polar auroras, but the mechanisms are different. Auroras are linked to the interaction of particles from the Sun with the Earth’s magnetic environment in polar regions.
The light pillars, on the other hand, depend on a light source close to the surface and ice crystals capable of reflecting that illumination. Thus, although both create spectacles in the sky, the physical origin of each phenomenon is distinct.
It’s also not a solar halo
Another optical phenomenon involving ice crystals is the halo, which can form luminous circles or arcs around the Sun. In this case, the observed geometry is also different.
In Japan, the lights displayed the vertical shape characteristic of pillars. There was no circular pattern associated with halos, but narrow bands that seemed to grow directly above the night horizon.
Distance can make the pillars even more mysterious
An important feature of the effect lies in perspective. Observers near the boats may find it easier to relate the illumination to the vessels present on the sea.
For someone situated much farther away, however, the source may disappear below or near the horizon line while the light pillars remain visible above it. This apparent separation contributes to making the scene so perplexing.
Fishing and atmospheric conditions must coincide on the same night
The spectacle, therefore, depends on a coincidence between human activity and meteorology. The boats need to have their lamps on just when ice crystals are capable of producing the appropriate reflection.
This combination helps explain why light pillars are not constantly seen, even in areas where nighttime fishing with intense lighting is regularly practiced. The source can exist without the atmospheric effect appearing.
A scene that looked like science fiction originated from fishing boats
The images show how a relatively simple process can produce an extraordinary appearance. Nine luminous columns over Japan were enough to fuel comments about UFOs before the connection to fishing and the atmosphere gained prominence.
In the end, the light pillars result from the combination of lamps used by boats to attract squid and fish and ice crystals capable of reflecting that illumination in the sky. If you saw nine of these columns on the horizon without knowing the explanation, would you first think of an atmospheric phenomenon or also suspect something unusual? Let us know in the comments what your first reaction would be.
