Explanation:
This surprising view of the Full Moon
rising on
June 7 was captured
with a telephoto lens from a seaside balcony near Nice, France.
The orange Moon's
dark markings and odd shape put the photographer
in mind of an alien creature's face staring down at the passing ship.
Of course, the Moon's distorted appearance is due to the unusual bending
(refraction) of light rays
creating multiple images or
mirages, similar to
sunset and
sunrise mirages.
The effects are most pronounced when
temperature
layers in the atmosphere produce sharp changes in air density and
refractive index.
Acting over long sight-lines to the rising and setting Sun or Moon,
the refraction significantly alters the
path of
light rays creating merged, distorted images.
Such mirages are also associated with the
Green Flash.
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