Photos of a unique natural phenomenon in the sky over Nizhny Novgorod have been published.

      On June 21, 2026, at 14:30, Society. A unique natural phenomenon — silvery clouds — was observed in the sky over Nizhny Novgorod on the night of June 21. The city planetarium named after Grechko shared mesmerizing footage. Specialists explained that silvery clouds form in the mesosphere — the upper layer of the atmosphere — and consist of tiny ice crystals. These, in turn, are formed on particles of meteor dust. The clouds are located so high that even after sunset, they continue to be illuminated by the sun's rays for an observer on the surface of the Earth. By scattering sunlight, they acquire a characteristic silvery hue.

      In this photo, the difference between ordinary tropospheric clouds, which appear dark, and the higher mesospheric silvery clouds is clearly visible. The bright star visible against the light background is Capella. Earlier, we reported that a powerful magnetic storm would cover the Nizhny Novgorod region at the end of June. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.