OPTICAL ILLUSIONS AND PHENOMENA
Added on: 17th Nov 2015
HORSETAIL FALLS
It’s not actually on fire, but when the light hits the water at the
right angle, it sure looks like it!
SUN DOGS
Also known as phantom suns, this happens when ice crystals in
the atmosphere create the effect of having two extra suns on
either side of the real sun.
FATA MORGANA
A complex type of mirage, Fata Morganas are caused by the air of
different temperatures distorting light waves.
LIGHT PILLAR
Once again, ice crystals are responsible for the vertical beam you
sometimes see over light sources in the sky.
BROCKEN SPECTRE
Also called “mountain spectre”, this happens when your magnified
shadow is cast on clouds or fog below you.
ATLANTIC ROAD
Although this bridge in Norway looks like it is nothing more than a ramp
leading to nowhere, seen from another angle you would see that the
bridge actually curves back down to the other side.
MOON ILLUSION
Have you ever noticed that when the moon is close to the horizon
it appears to be humongous? Well next time that happens, make
binoculars with your hands and isolate the moon in your field of vision.
It shrinks! Why is that? Because your brain adjusts the moon’s
size in relation to other object on the horizon and (mistakenly)
decides that it should actually be much bigger!
CLOUD SHADOWS
Looking like islands on an ocean, cloud shadows can make for an
interesting effect, especially in low lighting conditions.
ATLAS MOTH
The Atlas Moth comes with two snakes on its wings for protection!
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