The UFO Phenomenon

Stunning 'UFO' mirage is an optical illusion

By T.K. Randall
August 8, 2021 ·  19 comments

This 'UFO' is actually a trick of the light. Image Credit: Facebook / Glacier Bay National Park Optical illusions can create some fascinating effects, as evidenced recently by this intriguing clip of a 'UFO' recorded over the chilly waters of Glacier Bay in Alaska.

The video, which is backed by mountains stretching high in the distance, shows what looks like a dome-shaped object floating just above the water and moving slowly towards the left.

Things are not quite as they seem, however.

Known as Fata Morgana, this type of illusion can occur when a layer of warm air sits on top of a layer of colder air (known as a thermal inversion), causing the light to bend as it passes through them.The resulting effect can be quite striking and has been documented many times over the years.

While it is perhaps most commonly observed at sea, the illusion can occur on land as well - especially in deserts or in the polar regions where it is possible to see a long way into the distance.

Sometimes the object can appear larger or even upside-down in addition to floating in the air.

You can check out the clip for yourself below.


Source: YouTube | Comments (19)

Tags: UFO, Optical Illusion, Fata Morgana