'Hovering ship' photographed off Cornish coast by walker

[IslandHopper]

Couldn't find a 'Photography' or 'Interesting Pics' thread but thought it was too good not to post....

Seen this phenomena a few times and seen a few photos, this is one of the better ones I've seen....

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-56286719

'Hovering ship' photographed off Cornish coast by walker

Images of what appears to be a hovering ship have been captured as the result of a rare optical illusion off the coast of England.

David Morris took a photo of the ship near Falmouth, Cornwall.

BBC meteorologist David Braine said the "superior mirage" occurred because of "special atmospheric conditions that bend light".

He said the illusion is common in the Arctic, but can appear "very rarely" in the UK during winter.

Mr Morris said he was "stunned" after capturing the picture while looking out to sea from the hamlet of Gillan

Mr Braine said: "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.

"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 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."

[GordMay]

Your post is MUCH better, than this one, at "Nautical Oddities".
➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3357782

[atoll]

must be carrying helium or hydrogen as cargo.........

[LakeSuperior]

Based on the fact that these mirages happen "very rarely" in the UK winter I can only conclude that this occurrence is directly linked to climate change and will become daily in 5 to 7 years.

[belizesailor]

Not uncommon offshore, there is even a name for this optical phenomena "Fata Morgana".


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fata_Morgana_(mirage)

[Calif.Ted]

Once thought I saw a large MV in the distance upside down, not capsized just upside down, I think the reflected image off the water must have been much brighter than the actual boat.