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Explanation: On January 18 a tantalizing sunset was captured in this snapshot. Seemingly sliced into many horizontal layers the Sun shimmered moments before it touched the horizon, setting over the Pacific Ocean as seen from the mountaintop Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Pink hues of filtered sunlight were created by the long sight-line through the hazy atmosphere. But the remarkable layers correspond to low atmospheric layers of sharply different temperature and density also along the line of sight. Over a long path through each layer the rays of sunlight are refracted strongly and create different images or mirages of sections of the setting Sun.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: sunset - refraction
Publications with words: sunset - refraction
See also:
- APOD: 2025 December 30 Á An Artificial Comet
- APOD: 2025 December 22 Á Sunset Solstice over Stonehenge
- APOD: 2025 October 15 Á Rocket Launch Plume over Tucson
- APOD: 2025 June 15 Á Two Worlds One Sun
- APOD: 2020 August 2 Á Two Worlds One Sun
- Noctilucent Clouds, Reflections, and Silhouettes
- Shadowrise and Sunset