This is the amazing moment a rare light phenomenon was seen forming behind clouds in Indonesia.

Residents were in awe after seeing the strange bright circular lines forming behind clouds in the sky in Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan Province on October 11 afternoon.

They are believed to have been formed by sunlight reflecting through droplets or water and ice suspended in the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as a fire rainbow or circumhorizontal arc.

Some superstitious onlookers said that the shapes seen resembled the rays that come out of alien space ships.

Muhammad Taufik, who lives in the area, said he called his family and friends to watch the strange lights before they were gone.

He said: "I was enjoying the view from my yard. It was the first time we've seen such unusual lights in our village."

The hopeful villager said they hoped that the lights are a good sign as their country is battered with flash floods and landslides during the La Nina season.