While mirages are the best known atmospheric refraction phenomena, looming and similar refraction phenomena do not produce mirages. Mirages show an extra image or images of the miraged object, while l
The distant boats appear to be floating in the sky as a result of looming and other refraction phenomena.
Looming of the Canadian coast as seen from Rochester, New York, on April 16, 1871
Three photos showing a looming, towering, and Fata Morgana of the Farallon Islands
A mirage of an astronomical object is a meteorological optical phenomenon, in which light rays are bent to produce distorted or multiple images of an astronomical object. The mirages might be observed
Looming and similar refraction phenomena
…the different refraction phenomena are not independent from each other and may occur together as a combination, depending on atmospheric conditions. Mirage of astronomical objects Fata Morgana (mirage…
A mock mirage of the setting Sun
Superior mirage (3-image mirage) of sunspot #930
An image of the Golden Gate Bridge is refracted and bent by droplets of water.
Inferior mirage of comet C/2006 P1 McNaught