What is a Fata Morgana?

A Fata Morgana is a complex form of superior mirage that occurs when rays of light are bent as they pass through air layers of different temperatures. This atmospheric phenomenon can make objects on the horizon, such as ships or coastlines, appear distorted, inverted, or even floating above the water. The term "Fata Morgana" originates from the Italian name for Morgan le Fay, a sorceress from Arthurian legend, and is often associated with the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily. Fata Morgana mirages are caused by temperature inversions, where a layer of warm air sits above a cooler layer, bending light rays downward and creating the illusion of elongated, compressed, or duplicated images. This phenomenon is most commonly observed over large bodies of water.

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