On the evening of June 30th, a phenomenon known as “saucer clouds” or “UFO clouds” appeared in the sky over Taipei, Taiwan, attracting widespread attention from the public. The Taipei Astronomical Museum also shared a photo on their Facebook page, sparking discussions about this astronomical spectacle. Citizens also shared their own photos and videos of the saucer clouds they captured.
The Taipei Astronomical Museum posted on their Facebook page, stating, “After our assessment, we can confirm that this is a cloud and not a UFO or aliens. After all, it’s not July 5th today (just kidding).”
Providing some scientific background, they explained, “This saucer-shaped cloud is formed due to stable atmosphere and strong southeast winds. When the airflow encounters mountains, it creates vertical oscillations. The ascending air cools and condenses, forming these saucer clouds.”
Comments flooded in under the museum’s post, with one person exclaiming, “Wow, this cloud is so beautiful!” Another shared, “Just stepped out of the gym and saw it.” Others remarked on the uniqueness of the cloud’s shape and how special it appeared.
Some individuals shared their own photos of the saucer clouds, with comments like, “Such a beautiful cloud,” “Looks like a spaceship!” and “It’s so cool – first time seeing this kind of cloud!” The excitement and wonder were evident in their posts.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau previously explained that when a stable and moisture-laden air mass passes over hills, it creates a wavelike motion causing the air to rise and cool, leading to cloud formation. As the air descends and warms, the clouds dissipate as the water vapor evaporates, repeating this process results in saucer-shaped clouds.
Former director of the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau, Zheng Ming, clarified that saucer clouds are a result of “stationary waves.” The surrounding clouds reflect the fast-flowing air currents, and the cloud patterns are formed in the ascending region of the stationary wave.
The appearance of these saucer clouds in Taipei’s sky captivated the public and sparked curiosity about the natural phenomena, leaving many in awe of the beauty and uniqueness of the cloud formations.