Optical phenomena

Optical phenomena

Events and situations relating to eyes, vision, and the mind's processing of visual stimuli.

Industry: Optometry

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Optical phenomena

moon dog

Optometry; Optical phenomena

A moon dog, moondog, or mock moon, (scientific name paraselene, plural paraselenae, i.e. "beside the moon") is a relatively rare bright circular spot on a lunar halo caused by the ...

A false sunrise or dawn sundog is a very particular kind of parhelion, belonging to the optical phenomenon family of halos. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with the reflection or ...

false sunset

Optometry; Optical phenomena

It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with the reflection and refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds in the very particular case when the ...

Fata Morgana

Optometry; Optical phenomena

A Fata Morgana is an unusual and complex form of superior mirage that is seen in a narrow band right above the horizon. It is an Italian phrase derived from the vulgar Latin for "fairy" and ...

glory

Optometry; Optical phenomena

A glory is an optical phenomenon that resembles an iconic saint's halo about the shadow of the observer's head. The effect is believed to happen due to classical wave tunneling, when light ...

parhelic circle

Optometry; Optical phenomena

A parhelic circle is a halo, an optical phenomenon appearing as a horizontal white line on the same altitude as the sun, or occasionally the Moon. If complete, it stretches all around the sky, but ...

green flash

Optometry; Optical phenomena

Green flashes and green rays are optical phenomena that sometimes occur right after sunset or right before sunrise. When the conditions are right, a green spot is visible above the upper rim of the ...