Pearlescent paint the sky that appeared after sunset on December 9 over Scotland, attracted the attention of several nature lovers who post their photo in social networks.

"They were amazingly beautiful is the dream of any photographer," kommentiruet photo Leslie Jennings of Aberdeenshire. "Clouds poured pearlescent paints. I've never seen anything like this before," adds Rachel Taylor, also, of Aberdeenshire.

Official meteorological service UK this phenomenon is not recorded. However, the aggregate astronomical and atmospheric factors, including, given the situation in the stratosphere, meteorologists do not exclude that these were the same, quite rare pearl clouds.

Physics of their appearance scientists described long ago. This is stratospheric clouds, which occur 15-30 km However, for their appearance requires a rare combination of natural factors, among which are key temperature below -78 and height of the sun below the horizon.

Reflecting sunlight that illuminates them from below, they seem to be shining on the dark sky. 2 hours after sunset glow stops, but with the approaching dawn resumed again.

Clouds are observed only in the Northern regions of the Earth, especially in Alaska and Northern Europe (Scotland and Norway).

The game pearlescent paints due to the very strong iridescence - refraction of sunlight in spherical ice crystals of the same size.