© Claudia Hinz

Mt. Fichtelberg, Ore mountains, Germany

Latitude: 50° 25' 46'' N

Longitude: 12° 57' 15'' E

28 October 2014 1651 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards WSW

Image P/S code: P.13.10.2

Image I.D.: 4666

• Images & related info Other Images Images of 1987 edition
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  Mock mirage and green flash

  The mirage of astronomical objects, such as the Sun or Moon and occasionally planets, bright stars and bright comets, may produce distorted or multiple images of the object. The most commonly observed are sunset and sunrise mirages.

  When warmer air overlays colder surface air, and when this is viewed from above the inversion, a mock mirage may be seen. Multiple inversions may give rise to considerably distorted images.

  This sequence of photographs, taken from Mt. Fichtelberg (altitude 1 215 m) in the Ore mountains of Germany, ends with a mock mirage green flash.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Claudia Hinz
  Mt. Fichtelberg, Ore mountains, Germany
  Latitude: 50° 25' 46'' N
  Longitude: 12° 57' 15'' E
  28 October 2014 1651 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards WSW
  Image P/S code: P.13.10.2
  Image I.D.: 4666
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  Mock mirage sunset

  A mock mirage sunset usually occurs when warmer air from inland blows over a colder maritime layer of air, creating a low-level temperature inversion. As the Sun sets, a second Sun appears to climb from the ocean, resulting in this “mushroom” effect. The cooler air below the inversion is visible as a darker band just above the horizon. Sunlight is refracted at slightly different angles by the different density of each layer. If the density differences are large, rays can become trapped within layers and become “ducted”. The photograph was taken from an elevation of about 70 m above the sea.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Frank Le Blancq
  Portelet, St Brelade, Jersey
  Latitude: 49° 10' 22'' N
  Longitude: 2° 10' 21'' W
  29 November 2014 1610 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards SW
  Image P/S code: S.13.7.6
  Image I.D.: 4667
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  Mock mirage of the Sun

  Multiple images of the Sun are shown here at sunset as a result of sunlight passing through layers of air of different density and temperature. Warm air was overlying cold surface air over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Francisco, California, USA.

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  © Mila Zinkova
  San Francisco, California, United States of America
  Latitude: 37° 46' 20'' N
  Longitude: 122° 30' 42'' W
  20 September 2015 1910 (Local Time)
  
  
  Camera direction: towards W
  Image P/S code: S.13.7.5
  Image I.D.: 5800
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  Inferior mirage: omega Sun

  As the Sun descends towards the horizon at sunset, a second, miraged Sun rises from the water. The two appear to join in a shape resembling the Greek letter omega. The lower Sun is an inferior mirage, which is produced when cold air lies over a relatively much warmer layer of air at the sea surface.

  A mirage is an optical phenomenon produced when light is refracted, or bent, by passing through layers of air of different temperature, density and, therefore, refractive index.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Pekka Parviainen
  Pyhäranta, Finland
  Latitude: 60° 57' 2'' N
  Longitude: 21° 26' 15'' E
  16 January 2009 1156 (Local Time)
  
  
  Image P/S code: S.13.7.5
  Image I.D.: 5878
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  Mock mirage of the Sun

  The mirage of astronomical objects may produce distorted or multiple images of the object. The most commonly observed are mirages of the Sun at sunset or sunrise.

  When warmer air overlays colder surface air and when viewed from above the inversion, a mock mirage may be seen, as shown in this time-lapse sequence of images taken approximately five seconds apart using a camera attached to a telescope. Multiple inversions may give rise to considerably distorted images.

  Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.

  © Michael Nolle

  San Lawrenz, Gozo, Malta

  Latitude: 36° 3' 18'' N

  Longitude: 14° 12' 0'' E

  17 July 2016 1920 (Local Time)

  
  

  Image P/S code: S.13.7.5

  Image I.D.: Array