A light pillar is a visual phenomenon created by the reflection of light from ice crystals with near horizontal parallel planar surfaces. The light can come from the Sun (usually at or low to the horizon) in which case the phenomenon is called a sun pillar or solar pillar. It can also come from the Moon or from terrestrial sources such as streetlights.

Model Daisy Lowe presents a creation at the Katie Eary catwalk show during London Fashion Week Men's 2017 in London, Britain January 7, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

A demonstrator dances as riot police try to prevent LGBT rights activists gather for a Pride parade, which was banned by local authorities, in central in Istanbul, Turkey on June 26, 2021. (Photo by Dilara Senkaya/Reuters)

A participant takes part in donkey racing, during the 21st edition of annual Lamu Cultural Festival, in Lamu, Kenya, Saturday December 2, 2023. (Photo by AP Photo/Stringer)

A woman poses for a photo shoot with the blossom flowers decorated at Ritan Park during the Spring season in Beijing, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Andy Wong/AP Photo)

A woman takes a picture of a Maserati's SUV model Levante during the Auto China 2016 show in Beijing, China April 25, 2016. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Women hold hands during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) culture in Tokyo, Japan, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)

A model walks the runway at the Christian Siriano X Lane Bryant Collection at United Nations on May 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)