Explanation:
This dramatic telephoto view
across the Black Sea on June 6
finds Venus rising with the Sun,
the planet in silhouette against a ruddy and ragged solar disk.
Of course, the reddened light is due to scattering in planet
Earth's atmosphere and the rare
transit of Venus didn't
influence the strangely shaped and distorted Sun.
In fact, seeing the Sun in the shape of an
Etruscan Vase
is relatively common, especially compared to
Venus transits.
At sunset and sunrise, the effects of atmospheric refraction
enhanced by long, low, sight lines and strong
atmospheric temperature gradients produce the
visual distortions and mirages.
That situation is often favored by a
sea horizon.
