![]() Sailors say such ships are “looming” over the horizon and sometimes report distortions that stretch or compress the images, making them “towering” or “stooping” mirages, respectively. The latter effect is well known to sailors who can sometimes rely on refraction to spot ships that are geometrically beyond the horizon. One potential clue that the sight is a mirage is the lack of any detail below the vessel’s waterline – for example a mirage of a “hovering” yacht lacked the lower hull and keel. Photographers around the world have captured striking images of ships, yachts and other vessels apparently hovering in mid-air thanks to superior mirages. : “Superior mirages can produce a few different types of images – here a distant ship appears to float high above its actual position, but sometimes an object below the horizon can become visible.” “Since cold air is denser than warm air, it bends light towards the eyes of someone standing on the ground or on the coast, changing how a distant object appears.” “Superior mirages occur because of the weather condition known as a temperature inversion, where cold air lies close to the sea with warmer air above it,” said David Braine, a BBC meteorologist. This makes the ship appear in a higher position than it really is – in this instance, above the sea surface. In the case of the “hovering ship”, this means light rays coming from the ship are bent downwards as it passes through the colder air, to observers on the shoreline. The inversion in Cornwall was caused by chilly air lying over the relatively cold sea with warmer air above.īecause cold air is denser than warm air, it has a higher refractive index. But in a temperature inversion, warm air sits on top of a band of colder air, playing havoc with our visual perception. Normally, the air temperature drops with increasing altitude, making mountaintops colder than the foothills. The illusion is caused by a meteorological phenomenon called a temperature inversion. Such illusions are reasonably common in the Arctic but can also happen in UK winters when the atmospheric conditions are right, though they are very rare. The effect is an example of an optical illusion known as a superior mirage. This kind of illusion is very common in the Arctic but only happens very rarely in Winter time in the UK. "Superior mirages can produce a few different types of images - here a distant ship appears to float high above its actual position, but sometimes an object below the horizon can become visible." "Since cold air is denser than warm air, it bends light towards the eyes of someone standing on the ground or on the coast, changing how a distant object appears," he said. He went on to explain that is can happen when the air is very cold. The photographer David Morris was stunned by what he captured, thinking the ship was floating.īut what was really going on? BBC meteorologist David Braine has explained that illusions like this can occur because of "special atmospheric conditions that bend light". The picture was taken in Falmouth, Cornwall and is an example of a "superior mirage". Hotel Mirage Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western, 4-star hotel in the Milano Fiera area, offers numerous facilities to guests including gym, Bar open from 05:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Restaurant open for dinner every days from 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm and for lunch from monday to friday included from 12:00 am to 14:00 pm, free Wi-Fi, luggage deposit, SMART TV in all our rooms, garage with 23 parking spaces and shuttle service during important exhibitions.A rare optical illusion has made it seem like a ship is floating in the air above the sea. Featuring 86 rooms, all with wood flooring, furnished with style and elegance, Hotel Mirage Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western is the ideal solution for business or leisure. The close proximity to the "Fieramilano" and "Fiera Milano City" centres makes the hotel well-connected to one of the most interesting business areas in the area. ![]() Hotel Mirage Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western, 4-star hotel in Milan, located in the heart of the Italian financial capital, in a strategic position just a few steps from the most important destinations. Hotels near University of Commerce Luigi Bocconi.Hotels near Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.Hotels near University of Milan - Bicocca.Hotels near Corbetta-Santo Stefano Ticino Station.Hotels near Lotto - Fieramilanocity Station.Hotels near Centro Commerciale Piazza Portello.Hotels near Tiro a Segno Nazionale Milano.Hotel Mirage Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western Rooms.Hotel Mirage Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western Features.Hotels near Hotel Mirage Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western. ![]()
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