If I saw this, I would be going to get inline to be beamed up. It does look alien.
Imagine having been drinking and stepping out to see this.
This scene is created from ice crystals in the air. A similar sight is sun dogs. I still remember a cold winter day waiting for a bus when I saw sun dogs. It looked like the sun had split into three.
I enjoy the APOD see this explanation.
Here's more pictures of these light pillars.
