The Sun Dog Painting
For a morning in 1535 the sky above Stockholm filled with rings and extra suns, and someone painted it.
What was reported
On the morning of 20 April 1535, people in Stockholm saw white rings arc across the sky, with several extra suns sitting on them, for about two hours. In a time of religious upheaval, many took it as a sign from God.
A painting of the scene, known in Swedish as Vädersolstavlan, was made soon after. The version in Stockholm's cathedral today is a copy from 1636, and it's also the oldest known picture of the city.
Explanations offered
What they saw was a halo display: sunlight refracted and reflected by ice crystals high in the air, which makes sun dogs, circles and arcs. Displays this complete are rare, but they're well understood, and the painting records them closely.
- When
- 20 April 1535
- Where
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Witnesses
- The people of Stockholm
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.