Japan: Rare Brocken Spectre with Rainbow Halo Spotted in Japanese Alps

Captured at Karasawa-dake, a peak near Mount Okuhotaka, this video shows a rare Brocken spectre. The climber’s shadow appears on the mist below, clearly surrounded by a bright, rainbow-colored halo. This optical phenomenon occurs when the sun is low behind the observer, creating a ghostly shadow that seems to float in the clouds.

1 climber found dead by rescuers in Gifu mountains

1 climber found dead by rescuers in Gifu mountains

TAKAYAMA, Japan - Rescue workers carry a body recovered from Mt. Okuhotaka to a vehicle in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, on Jan. 4, 2010. The body was later identified as that of Mitsuru Honjo, a 58-year-old geological researcher from Kobe. Honjo went climbing on Mt. Okuhotaka with two other climbers from the city on Dec. 29, but their alpine club reported them missing to police Jan. 2.

Chopper crashes in Gifu during rescue attempt, 3 aboard killed

Chopper crashes in Gifu during rescue attempt, 3 aboard killed

GIFU, Japan - The wreckage of a Gifu Prefecture fire department helicopter burns on Mt. Okuhotaka in Gifu Prefecture on Sept. 11, 2009 after it crashed during a mission to rescue a climber. All three people on board were killed.

Chopper crashes in Gifu during rescue attempt, 3 aboard killed

Chopper crashes in Gifu during rescue attempt, 3 aboard killed

GIFU, Japan - The wreckage of a Gifu Prefecture fire department helicopter burns on Mt. Okuhotaka in Gifu Prefecture on Sept. 11, 2009 after it crashed during a mission to rescue a climber. All three people on board were killed. (Kyodo)

1 climber found dead by rescuers in Gifu mountains

1 climber found dead by rescuers in Gifu mountains

TAKAYAMA, Japan - Rescue workers carry a body recovered from Mt. Okuhotaka to a vehicle in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, on Jan. 4, 2010. The body was later identified as that of Mitsuru Honjo, a 58-year-old geological researcher from Kobe. Honjo went climbing on Mt. Okuhotaka with two other climbers from the city on Dec. 29, but their alpine club reported them missing to police Jan. 2. (Kyodo)