Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 23: Sep-Oct 1982 Issue Contents

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Zoom Lens In The Atmosphere

June 29, 1981. South Atlantic Ocean.

At 1700 GMT, the master and third officer of the Rockhampton Star observed a vessel at a distance of 6 nautical miles. Its appearance was normal for that distance. At 12 n.m., however, it was magnified four times over what it should have been for that distance. At 16 n.m., the apparent magnification was eight. The interesting aspects of this phenomenon are:

1. Increasing magnification with distance; and
2. The magnified image was perfect in two dimensions and not distorted along the vertical axis as is usually the case in abnormal refraction.

(White, A.H.; "Abnormal Refraction," Marine Observer, 52:80, 1982.)

Comment. What kind of stable atmospheric lens can do this?

Reference. Phenomena like that above are termed "telescopic mirages." These are cataloged at GEM2 in Rare Halos, Mirages. For a description of this book, visit: here.

From Science Frontiers #23, SEP-OCT 1982. © 1982-2000 William R. Corliss

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Science Frontiers Sourcebook Project Reviewed in: Icarus: Volume 41, Issue 3, p. 470-470 1984, Vol.56:3, P.615 1983, Vol.58:3 June 1984, Vol.60:3 Dec 1984, Vol.72:3 Dec 1987 Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol. 81, no. 1 1987 American Journal of Physics, Volume 52, Issue 8, p. 764 August 1984 Quotes "Before opening the book, I set certain standards that a volume which treads into dangerous grounds grounds like this must meet. The author scrupulously met, or even exceeded those standards. Each phenomenon is exhaustively documented, with references to scientific journals [..] and extensive quotations" -- "Book Review: The moon and planets: a catalog of astronomical anomalies", The Sourcebook Project, 1985., Corliss, W. R., Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada>, Vol. 81, no. 1 (1987), p. 24., 02/1987