Locals in a small coastal town were baffled to see nine pillars of light appearing in the night sky above the ocean. Photos of the bizarre event were shared online after dozens noticed the beams near Tottori prefecture, Japan , on May 11. User Maashii posted a photo of the beams cutting through a cloudy night sky on X above Daisen, a small fishing town.

He told news site Hint-Pot: ‘When I looked up at the night sky in front of my house, I saw several streaks of light in the sky.’ The beams appeared in the direction of the Sea of Japan, and many have speculated aliens are behind them. But the odd phenomenon has a reasonable explanation – and it’s not what you may think.

The beams appeared near a busy fishing area in Japan, and the lights are actually reflections of off-shore fishing vessel lights. The light is refracted into the clouds, and is only seen once every few years, according to Masi-san. The phenomenon is called ‘Isaribi Kochu’.

One resident of Tottori, Marcy, moved to the town almost a decade ago and said she has only seen it three or four times. So while the beams may not be aliens, they certainly are interesting. World’s smallest fish finger sandwich weighs the same as a single pea Crocodile's head pops up in puddle outside Buckinghamshire village Girl heard 'monsters' in her bedroom wall - it turned out to be something much worse Mystery blue orb spotted hanging low over city In February, Ukrainian troops captured an odd image in the night sky – w.