Rafha, July (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 16 يوليو 2026ء) Member of the AFAQ Society for Astronomy Barjas Al-Fulaih told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that a mirage occurs when light rays bend as they pass through layers of air with different temperatures and densities, creating illusory or distorted images of distant objects. He said the phenomenon is one of the most prominent optical effects associated with hot weather.
He explained that mirages may appear stable or shimmering, upright or inverted, and can make objects seem to be in positions different from their actual locations because of the bending of light. This apparent displacement may reach up to 10 degrees above the horizon, he noted.
Al-Fulaih added that mirages are divided into two main types: the inferior mirage, the more common form, which appears above intensely heated surfaces such as roads and deserts, creating the illusion of a body of water; and the superior mirage, which forms over cold surfaces such as seas and snowfields because of temperature differences between layers of air.
He also noted that the effects of mirages are not limited to terrestrial objects but can also extend to celestial bodies. The Sun, the Moon, planets, stars, and comets may appear distorted or multiplied, with sunrise and sunset mirages among the most prominent examples.
Al-Fulaih added that mirages have featured throughout human history and have been associated with exploration and myths. They have inspired writers and philosophers and have become a literary and cultural symbol of false hope or goals that appear within reach but remain unattainable.
