Superior Mirage - Ship hovering high above sea off Cornwall

One day, I'd love to see one of these mirages. I understand the science behind it, but it still blows my mind!

The Guardian (UK)

David Morris, who captured the extraordinary sight on camera, declared himself “stunned” when he noticed a giant tanker evidently floating above the water as he looked out to sea from a hamlet near Falmouth in Cornwall.

The effect is an example of an optical illusion known as a superior mirage. 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...

This is how it works (more information in the article):

... More familiar optical illusions are the “inferior mirages” that give rise to apparent oases in the desert and puddles on hot summer roads.

Food for thought... Could the legendary The Flying Dutchman or other famous ghost ships have been simply a superior mirage?

a reply to: Encia22

Nope, its a new hydrophobic ship liner

Whoa. That is new to me.

a reply to: Encia22

Awesome shot!
But are we sure that is not the side profile of an Imperial Star Destroyer?
It sure looks like one.

Seriously though,its a really cool property of light the way it can be refracted though the atmosphere-There have been cases of people seeing "floating cities" as well-not really floating but sort of projected onto the sky from a position over the horizon(I think).

a reply to: Butterfinger

Hydrophobics have feelings too!
Someone call BLM and The LGBT community, these hydrophobics need a parade and protest.

a reply to: Encia22


I've seen images like this before, but none that were near as good as this one.

This pic is definitely superior to the others.

Extremely cool, made my day. Thanks for posting.

a reply to: Encia22

Thanks for sharing that.

Never seen a photograph of the phenomenon before.

There's a lot of documentation about these phenomena, even to the point where entire cities have been observed floating in the sky. Google "Fata Morgana" for more amazing optical illusions

www.washingtonpost.com... -mirage/

www.nationalgeographic.com...

a reply to: Encia22

whew was worried they were going to fall off the edge.

That's a Crimson Command Star Destroyer, obviously... . Question is what is it doing off Cornwall?

Must be true because for mysterious reasons my comment was posted twice. Probably the force... or something.

a reply to: Encia22

Is this a new phenomenon? I don't remember seeing any pictures of this type of thing before.

originally posted by: Alien Abduct
a reply to: Encia22

Is this a new phenomenon? I don't remember seeing any pictures of this type of thing before.

Not new, just rare outside the Artic and in very specific atmospheric conditions.

originally posted by: Encia22

originally posted by: Alien Abduct
a reply to: Encia22

Is this a new phenomenon? I don't remember seeing any pictures of this type of thing before.

Not new, just rare outside the Artic and in very specific atmospheric conditions.

Shouldn't there be older pictures of this phenomenon?

originally posted by: Alien Abduct

originally posted by: Encia22

originally posted by: Alien Abduct
a reply to: Encia22

Is this a new phenomenon? I don't remember seeing any pictures of this type of thing before.

Not new, just rare outside the Artic and in very specific atmospheric conditions.

Shouldn't there be older pictures of this phenomenon?

Ahem,

www.atoptics.co.uk...

Maybe put on the thinking caps!

Ahh! I'll go further, I think, 'The Guardian' and the BBC have been taken for a ride on this one.

a reply to: Silcone Synapse
Wrong color scheme to be an imperial star destroyer. Did the rebels get ahold of one?

originally posted by: smurfy

originally posted by: Alien Abduct

originally posted by: Encia22

originally posted by: Alien Abduct
a reply to: Encia22

Is this a new phenomenon? I don't remember seeing any pictures of this type of thing before.

Not new, just rare outside the Artic and in very specific atmospheric conditions.

Shouldn't there be older pictures of this phenomenon?

Ahem,

www.atoptics.co.uk...

Maybe put on the thinking caps!

Ahh! I'll go further, I think, 'The Guardian' and the BBC have been taken for a ride on this one.

How old is your example?

originally posted by: Alien Abduct

originally posted by: smurfy

originally posted by: Alien Abduct

originally posted by: Encia22

originally posted by: Alien Abduct
a reply to: Encia22

Is this a new phenomenon? I don't remember seeing any pictures of this type of thing before.

Not new, just rare outside the Artic and in very specific atmospheric conditions.

Shouldn't there be older pictures of this phenomenon?

Ahem,

www.atoptics.co.uk...

Maybe put on the thinking caps!

Ahh! I'll go further, I think, 'The Guardian' and the BBC have been taken for a ride on this one.

How old is your example?

There are many examples, dating back to the 1800s, of this type of mirage having been reported during expeditions, etc. Sometimes, the phenomenon was called Fata Morgana.

Have a look at the "Famous legends and observations" of this Wiki page.

Fata Morgana (Mirage) Wikipedia