Why our brain loves celestial illusions
The reason this photo is so captivating is that it evokes a universal phenomenon: pareidolia. This term refers to our tendency to see familiar shapes in things that aren’t really familiar. A face in the clouds, a heart in the coffee foam, a silhouette in the moon… our minds love to connect the dots.
This reflex is far from insignificant. It reflects our need for meaning, our desire to believe that there is a connection between us and the world around us. These signs from the heavens , whether purely optical or not, stimulate our imagination and remind us that beauty is everywhere, even where we least expect it.
