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
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
Novaya Zemlya effect
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The Novaya Zemlya effect is a polar mirage caused by high refraction of sunlight between atmospheric thermal layers. The effect gives the impression that the sun is rising earlier than it actually sho
Mirage of astronomical objects
…very unusual atmospheric circumstances can make it to be visible when it is really between two and five degrees below the horizon. This is called the Novaya Zemlya effect, because it was first observed in Novaya Zemlya, where the Sun was seen when, according to astronomical calculations, it should have been two degrees…
Distorted image due to the mirage. Note that this photo, which includes a green flash, was taken in San Francisco, Calif.