Case file · Cosmic event
Vädersolstavlan: the Stockholm sun dogs
On 20 April 1535, a halo display with several false suns appeared over Stockholm for hours; a painting of it is the oldest colour image of the city.
1535 CE · 59.33, 18.07 · status: explained
The account
The display was read as an omen, perhaps against King Gustav Vasa, who later fell out with the reformer Olaus Petri over its interpretation.
The sceptical view
It is a well-understood atmospheric halo of ice crystals, with sun dogs (parhelia) and arcs.