mirage: Quick Facts

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Diagram showing how an inferior mirage forms: light rays from a distant object bend upward as they pass through hot air near the ground, causing a viewer to see a displaced, inverted image below the real object. Cold air is depicted above the hot air layer, and the scene includes a person, palm trees, and a building.

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Topics

What causes mirages?looming Fata Morgana refraction optical illusion atmospheric refraction phi phenomenon double refraction Snell’s law rainbow refractive index Halo afterimage autokinetic effect Why are rainbows curved?