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A mysterious UFO-shaped cloud baffled skiers when it appeared in the sky over Sweden. The bizarre cloud floated in the sky over ski resorts Åre and Duved on Thursday, prompting some to speculate that Martians had arrived for a day on the slopes. Many rushed to take pictures of the unusual phenomenon and posted them on social media. "I thought it was pretty cool," one of them, Elvira Kuper, told broadcaster SVT. Experts explained it was a so-called lenticular cloud, which forms over mountain peaks when the air is forced to rise as it hits the hillside. As it cools...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2003 March 26 A Lenticular Cloud Over Wyoming Credit & Copyright: Mark Meyer (Photo-Mark.com) Explanation: Is that a cloud or a flying saucer? Both, although it is surely not an alien spacecraft. Lenticular clouds can be shaped like a saucer, and can fly in the sense that, like most clouds, they are composed of small water droplets that float on air. Lenticular clouds are typically formed by high...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 April 8 NGC 2787: A Barred Lenticular Galaxy Credit: Marcella Carollo (ETHZ), Hubble Heritage, NASA Explanation: Lenticular galaxies aren't supposed to be photogenic. Like spiral galaxies, they contain a disk, but like elliptical galaxies, they are usually short on dust, gas, and pretty spiral arms. Lenticulars are relatively little studied, possibly because of their seemingly benign nature. Famous galaxies historically classified as lenticular include M84, M85, and...