MOSCOW: A stunning footage and images are taking internet by storm, showing three suns appearing in the sky over Russia.

The unusual sight was observed by citizens St Petersburg. The triple sun scene was the result of a rare natural phenomenon.

According to Maria Borukha, head of popular science at the Petersburg Planetarium, this rare phenomenon is known as ‘sun dogs’.

She explained that they were an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of a pair of bright spots appearing on either side of the Sun. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season but are rarely seen as brightly as they were in the St Petersburg area, she added.

Local residents immediately took to social media to post images of the strange sight.

The scene has been likened to Luke Skywalker’s fictitious home planet of Tatooine in Star Wars, which has two suns

What are sun dogs?

Patches of light that sometimes appear beside the sun are called sundogs. Sundogs (or sun dogs) are also referred to as mock suns or phantom suns.

Sundogs often appear as colored areas of light to the left or right of the sun, 22 degrees distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun. They are frequently observed on a ring or halo around the sun.

The optical illusion normally takes place after the night frosts and when the temperature falls rapidly.  They are usually seen during extremely cold weather, particularly when the sun is low in the sky.

WATCH: Three suns appear over Russian city

Last November, a similar scene was sighted by locals in Siberia