Two suns appeared in the sky of the northeastern city of Harbin on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 14, 2007. (Source: CRIENGLISH.com/ChinaFotoPress)

    BEIJING, Nov. 15 -- To many people's surprise, two suns shined simultaneously Wednesday afternoon in the sky of northeastern China's city of Harbin, with the real sun brighter than the mock one.

    The professional photographic group China Foto Press recorded the rare but fantastic celestial phenomenon.

    It reported that the two sun phenomenon began at 3 pm local time and that within 40 minutes the mock sun, to the south of the normal sun, had became dimmer and dimmer as it receded into a piece of rosy cloud and finally disappeared.

    The special phenomenon, according to scientists, is a solar halo, or "mock sun", which results from the refraction of ice crystal particles contained in clouds.

    The addition of a mock sun is a common sight in polar regions but very rare in other places.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)Two Suns Shine in Harbin on WednesdayTwo Suns Shine in Harbin on Wednesday