India, Feb. 2 -- Skywatchers in Russia's St. Petersburg witnessed an unusual celestial sight when four moons appeared in the night sky.

The rare event was reportedly spotted on Sunday night and its clips quickly drew attention online. Users shared their amazement at the glowing formation above the Russian city.

The striking sight left many stargazers stunned as bright shapes seemed to flank the Moon, creating the illusion of multiple lunar bodies.

(HT.com cannot independently verify the authenticity of the clip)

The spectacle was not caused by extra moons, but by an atmospheric optical effect known as paraselenae. These are often described as "moon dogs" and are similar to sundogs, which form around the Sun.

Paraselenae occur when mo...