Off the coast of Cornwall, a tanker has been seen to appear to be hovering.
This weird optical illusion is thought to be brought on by how light moves through air at various temperatures.
The massive tanker can be seen in video off Perranporth on Cornwall’s north coast appearing to hover in midair.
The video’s photographer, health professional Lizzi Larbalestier, expressed her amazement at the perplexing phenomenon.
I saw it off Perranporth on Thursday around 10.45 am, she claimed. It was quite cool.
The ship had been visible for a few days, sitting on the horizon, but as I returned home after walking my dog Goose, I gave it a second look since it appeared to be flying.
The optical illusion persisted for at least 30 minutes… I was attempting to figure out what it was or how it worked, as most people do with optical illusions or magic performances.
The gradient of temperatures caused by the sun’s heating of the atmosphere above land or water is what causes the mirage.
The light from the ship bends as it travels through gaps in the air currents because there is a layer of warm air sitting on top of a layer of cold air.
The brain interprets a bending of light as the object being where it would be if the light’s path were straight because it believes that light moves in straight lines.
David Braine, a BBC meteorologist, stated that the phenomena is brought on by atmospheric conditions that allow light to bend.
Superior mirages are caused by a weather phenomenon called a temperature inversion, in which cold air is located near the sea and warmer air is located above it, the scientist explained.
‘Cold air bends light towards the eyes of someone standing on the ground or on the coast because it is heavier than warm air, affecting how a distant item appears.
According to the 2011 book Don’t Shoot the Albatross! : Nautical Myths and Superstitions by Jonathan Eyers, the Flying Dutchman mythology is said to have originated from a mirage.
Mountains that seem to be hovering are just one unique view caused by the mirage, which is not just limited to the sea.
Superior mirages are occasionally observed in the UK, although they are frequently observed in the Arctic.