Fata Morgana

A Fata Morgana seen over the Baltic Sea, 2016. The mirage consists of multiple upright and inverted images over the original object. A Fata Morgana of a container ship seen off the coast of Oceanside, California A Fata Morgana changing the shape of a distant boat A Fata Morgana ( Italian: [ˈfaːta morˈɡaːna]) is a complex form of mirage visible in a narrow band right above the horizon. The term Fata Morgana is the Italian translation of Morgan le Fay of Arthurian legend. These mirages are often seen in the Italian Strait of Messina, and were described as fairy castles in the air or false land conjured by her magic.

Fata Morgana mirages significantly distort the object or objects on which they are based, often such that the object is completely unrecognizable. A Fata Morgana may be seen at sea or on land, in polar regions, or in deserts. It may involve almost any kind of distant object, including boats, islands, and the coastline. Often, a Fata Morgana changes rapidly. The mirage comprises several inverted (upside down) and upright images stacked on top of one another. Fata Morgana mirages also show alternating compressed and stretched zones.