Atmospheric phenomena Voyage Tips and guide

This is an article about the atmosphere as a natural attraction. See weather for safety concerns.

Atmospheric phenomena are spectacular formations and optical illusions in Earth's atmosphere. While some can be seen in most places around Earth, such as sunsets or rainbows, other are normally seen in a few locations.

A mirage is a displaced image of an object just above or below the horizon. They are associated with deserts, and the trope of deceiving travellers.

A Fata Morgana is a multiple mirage which extends high above the horizon.

Sunrise and sunset can be seen whenever the sky is not totally overcast. The sun's trajectory differs dependent on latitude, and these take a long time closer to the poles.

A halo is a 22 degree circle around the sun. Sun dogs are blank spots at level with the sun. These are usually visible on a sunny and cold day.

A rainbow is visible in the opposite direction of a light source, typically the sun. A full-circle rainbow can be seen from an aircraft or a tall mountain. Especially in humid climate, a moonbow can appear from moonlight.

The midnight sun is visible at summer in the Arctic and Antarctica.

A Brocken spectre is a shadow from an elevated person or object projected onto a lower surface, famous from the Brocken peak in Germany.

Fog is common in humid climate, and can cause spectacular effects such as fogbows.

Rime is ice deposited on the ground, vegetation and other objects.

The aurora borealis and aurora australis are electrically charged particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field.

• Air pollution
• Astronomy
  • Solar eclipses
• Science tourism
• Space
• UFOs, usually confused with natural atmospheric phenomena
• Weather