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Optical phenomenon
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<h2 id="scope">Scope</h2> <p><i>Optical phenomena encompass a broad range of events, including those caused by atmospheric optical properties, other natural occurrences, man-made effects, and interactions involving human vision (entoptic phenomena)</i>. Also listed here are unexplained phenomena that could have an optical explanation and "<a href="/facts/Optical_illusion/8wfWwjFI">optical illusions</a>" for which optical explanations have been excluded. </p><p>There are multiple phenomena that result from either the <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">particle</a> or the <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_radiation/Ynx7ujCW">wave</a> nature of light. Some are quite subtle and observable only by precise measurement using scientific instruments. <i>A famous example is the bending of starlight by the Sun during a solar eclipse, a phenomenon that serves as evidence for the curvature of space as predicted by the theory of relativity</i>. </p> <h2 id="atmospheric-optics">Atmospheric optics</h2> <p class="note">This section is an excerpt from <a href="/facts/List_of_atmospheric_optical_phenomena/c43azlSA">List of atmospheric optical phenomena</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_atmospheric_optical_phenomena&action=edit">edit</a>]</p> <p><a href="/facts/List_of_atmospheric_optical_phenomena/c43azlSA">Atmospheric optical phenomena</a> include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Afterglow/uzqf4p1F">Afterglow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Airglow/9yMhcjB4">Airglow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Alexander%27s_band/nGR2zdKJ">Alexander's band</a>, the dark region between the two bows of a double rainbow.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Alpenglow/SzD0sNNa">Alpenglow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Anthelion/gq7evTmn">Anthelion</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Anticrepuscular_rays/U4dYkRoJ">Anticrepuscular rays</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Aurora/6agpj9Qs">Aurora</a> (northern and southern lights, aurora borealis and aurora australis)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Belt_of_Venus/Kv71T413">Belt of Venus</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Brocken_Spectre/oeFexbJQ">Brocken Spectre</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Circumhorizontal_arc/5jo6egef">Circumhorizontal arc</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Circumzenithal_arc/gLlHlp0K">Circumzenithal arc</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cloud_iridescence/CmMGxPh9">Cloud iridescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Crepuscular_rays/vvq2hC9e">Crepuscular rays</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Earth%27s_shadow/WeBpSyfX">Earth's shadow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Earthquake_light/CQwgrp86">Earthquake lights</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Glory_(optical_phenomenon)/QMIzNj7z">Glories</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Green_flash/LdMqTmF3">Green flash</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)/QgmnIgWQ">Halos</a>, of Sun or Moon, including <a href="/facts/Sun_dog/1grRgRpC">sun dogs</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Haze/83dMNDgj">Haze</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Heiligenschein/zPgYHj7F">Heiligenschein</a> or halo effect, partly caused by the <a href="/facts/Opposition_effect/AGmGzU4C">opposition effect</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Ice_blink/m4mc8nXk">Ice blink</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Light_pillar/6PmLXfvN">Light pillar</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lightning/dLTuxz8n">Lightning</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mirage/5CK0uwtz">Mirages</a> (including <a href="/facts/Fata_Morgana_(mirage)/jsQvrPjp">Fata Morgana</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Monochrome_Rainbow/AEnvcn0q">Monochrome Rainbow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Moon_dog/Ner2wHYj">Moon dog</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Moonbow/ouhGBSMj">Moonbow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Polar_stratospheric_cloud/wpQfDlBI">Nacreous cloud/Polar stratospheric cloud</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Rainbow/rBvLyu3u">Rainbow</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sprite_(lightning)/Y9c1dnlf">Sprite (lightning)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Subsun/CIfarIj9">Subsun</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sun_dog/1grRgRpC">Sun dog</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tangent_arc/lqWEq4lc">Tangent arc</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tyndall_effect/QJ9I8yeI">Tyndall effect</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Upper-atmospheric_lightning/487v0T6w">Upper-atmospheric lightning</a>, including <a href="/facts/Sprite_(lightning)/Y9c1dnlf">red sprites</a>, <a href="/facts/Blue_jets/487v0T6w">Blue jets</a>, and <a href="/facts/ELVES/487v0T6w">ELVES</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Water_sky/9aSh5hD3">Water sky</a></li></ul> <h2 id="non-atmospheric-optical-phenomena">Non-atmospheric optical phenomena</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Dichromatism/M3a3NkhH">Dichromatism</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Gegenschein/LxR8HjaJ">Gegenschein</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Iridescence/ykc1opK8">Iridescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Opposition_effect/AGmGzU4C">Opposition effect</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Shadow/f9zpBgFQ">Shadow</a> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Shade_(shadow)/nuJRxKGj">Shade</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Silhouette/h08xsCFs">Silhouette</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sylvanshine/AwhhThbv">Sylvanshine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Zodiacal_light/HqQjsaox">Zodiacal light</a></li></ul> <h3>Other optical effects</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Asterism_(gemmology)/cwabWRS6">Asterism</a>, star <a href="/facts/Gemstone/kHffmvE3">gems</a> such as star <a href="/facts/Sapphire/C11GJAmm">sapphire</a> or star <a href="/facts/Ruby/faGnqzW8">ruby</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Aura_(optics)/QgmnIgWQ">Aura</a>, a phenomenon in which gas or dust surrounding an object luminesces or reflects light from the object</li> <li><a href="/facts/Aventurescence/QN9apf4N">Aventurescence</a>, also called the Schiller effect, spangled gems such as <a href="/facts/Aventurine_quartz/edxX8SV2">aventurine quartz</a> and <a href="/facts/Sunstone/okdoJjnU">sunstone</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Baily%27s_beads/XtHAMIIL">Baily's beads</a>, grains of sunlight visible in total solar eclipses.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Camera_obscura/0xEbeJKd">camera obscura</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cathodoluminescence/qqCdFxtQ">Cathodoluminescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Caustic_(optics)/og01czyx">Caustics</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Chatoyancy/jpeyA5kk">Chatoyancy</a>, cat's eye gems such as <a href="/facts/Chrysoberyl/RRDtRWJE">chrysoberyl</a> cat's eye or <a href="/facts/Beryl/Fl7q1Hl9">aquamarine</a> cat's eye</li> <li><a href="/facts/Chromatic_polarization/Lr9hoBH2">Chromatic polarization</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Diffraction/Mk80xXHT">Diffraction</a>, the apparent bending and spreading of light <a href="/facts/Wave/fU0HH6St">waves</a> when they meet an obstruction</li> <li><a href="/facts/Dispersion_(optics)/cUdHnYXz">Dispersion</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Double_refraction/J4lLuR3a">Double refraction</a> or <a href="/facts/Birefringence/J4lLuR3a">birefringence</a> of <a href="/facts/Calcite/gKMHYQJo">calcite</a> and other minerals</li> <li><a href="/facts/Double-slit_experiment/TR8zwEcy">Double-slit experiment</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Electroluminescence/geazduXd">Electroluminescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Evanescent_wave/svCyRKr7">Evanescent wave</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Fluorescence/qsJVT2qP">Fluorescence</a>, also called luminescence or <a href="/facts/Photoluminescence/L1u2PJIa">photoluminescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mie_scattering/5mJc3SrT">Mie scattering</a> (Why clouds are white)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Metamerism_(color)/GoSRGA5p">Metamerism</a> as of <a href="/facts/Alexandrite/RRDtRWJE">alexandrite</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Moir%C3%A9_pattern/nvxDu1qK">Moiré pattern</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Newton%27s_rings/wPgrDW5K">Newton's rings</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Phosphorescence/WshJFsKV">Phosphorescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pleochroism/EJJclyzk">Pleochroism</a> gems or <a href="/facts/Crystal/e2R2mk3E">crystals</a>, which seem "many-colored"</li> <li><a href="/facts/Rayleigh_scattering/o0MQtPMM">Rayleigh scattering</a> (Why the sky is blue, sunsets are red, and associated phenomena)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Reflection_(physics)/BhcjDs79">Reflection</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Refraction/S8kvSKzM">Refraction</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sonoluminescence/BIXNbsGX">Sonoluminescence</a> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Sonoluminescence/BIXNbsGX">Shrimpoluminescence</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Synchrotron_radiation/mTsSKmRz">Synchrotron radiation</a></li> <li>The separation of light into colors by a <a href="/facts/Triangular_prism_(optics)/87fCcXBo">prism</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Triboluminescence/fwAkDFTp">Triboluminescence</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Thomson_scattering/hUj6gSgB">Thomson scattering</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Total_internal_reflection/Tm0M62NQ">Total internal reflection</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Twisted_light/Mrz1VjMY">Twisted light</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Umov_effect/SVpMe5v0">Umov effect</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Zeeman_effect/A6NMlp2D">Zeeman effect</a></li> <li>The ability of light to travel through space or through a vacuum.</li></ul> <h3>Entoptic phenomena</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Entoptic_phenomenon/DqubYflX">Entoptic phenomenon</a></p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Diffraction/Mk80xXHT">Diffraction</a> of light through the <a href="/facts/Eyelash/IPvRcQhD">eyelashes</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Haidinger%27s_brush/ff62suCA">Haidinger's brush</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Monocular_vision/AlWkdvgt">Monocular</a> <a href="/facts/Diplopia/wYoJ9Khj">diplopia</a> (or <a href="/facts/Polyplopia/wYoJ9Khj">polyplopia</a>) from reflections at boundaries between the various ocular media</li> <li><a href="/facts/Phosphene/drX559kx">Phosphenes</a> from stimulation other than by light (e.g., mechanical, electrical) of the <a href="/facts/Rod_cell/mNd9Sf1E">rod cells</a> and <a href="/facts/Cone_cell/JoQeEzoF">cones</a> of the eye or of other neurons of the visual system</li> <li><a href="/facts/Purkinje_images/qUf6hrDh">Purkinje images</a>.</li></ul> <h3>Optical illusions</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Optical_illusion/8wfWwjFI">Optical illusion</a></p> <ul><li>The unusually large size of the <a href="/facts/Moon/zKHqEMPb">Moon</a> as it rises and sets, the <a href="/facts/Moon_illusion/8HKI41uv">Moon illusion</a></li> <li>The shape of the sky, the sky bowl</li></ul> <h2 id="unexplained-phenomena">Unexplained phenomena</h2> <p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Forteana/fErPq3MR">Forteana</a>, <a href="/facts/Will-o%27-the-wisp/dVLzBABD">Will-o'-the-wisp</a>, and <a href="/facts/Unidentified_flying_object/EcXogHdh">Unidentified flying object</a></p> <p>Some phenomena are yet to be conclusively explained and may possibly be some form of optical phenomena. Some[<i>weasel words</i>] consider a number of these "mysteries" to simply be local <a href="/facts/Tourist_attraction/MVHeCkMd">tourist attractions</a> that are not worthy of thorough investigation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Hessdalen_lights/THqpVBHS">Hessdalen lights</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Min_Min_light/dvFlpuMY">Min Min lights</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Light_of_Saratoga/xJo3hlnD">Light of Saratoga</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Naga_fireball/206yNRlN">Naga fireballs</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_optical_topics/5Ad2HowD">List of optical topics</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Optics/p0vq4S1T">Optics</a></li></ul> <h2 id="source">Source</h2> <p>Ozerov, Ruslan P.; Vorobyev, Anatoli A. (2007). "Wave Optics and Quantum–Optical Phenomena". <i>Physics for Chemists</i>. pp. 361–422. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2FB978-044452830-8%2F50008-8">10.1016/B978-044452830-8/50008-8</a>. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0-444-52830-8. </p> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li>Thomas D. Rossing and Christopher J. Chiaverina, Light Science: Physics and the Visual Arts, Springer, New York, 1999, hardback, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-387-98827-0</li> <li>Robert Greenler, Rainbows, Halos, and Glories, Elton-Wolf Publishing, 1999, hardback, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-89716-926-3</li> <li>Polarized Light in Nature, G. P. Können, Translated by G. A. Beerling, Cambridge University Press, 1985, hardcover, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-521-25862-6</li> <li>M.G.J. Minnaert, <i>Light and Color in the Outdoors</i>, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-387-97935-2</li> <li>John Naylor "Out of the Blue: A 24-hour Skywatcher's Guide", CUP, 2002, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-521-80925-8</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20030914050828/http://www.wienerzeitung.at/frameless/extra.htm?ID=9898">Abenteuer im Erdschatten</a> (German).</li> <li><a href="http://esurfmar.meteo.fr/wikilog/index.php/Main_Page">The Marine Observers' Log</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Optical phenomena. <ul><li><a href="http://www.atoptics.co.uk/">Atmospheric Optics</a> Reference site</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Lahiri, Avijit (2016). "Electromagnetic Theory and Optics". Basic Optics: Principles and Concepts. Elsevier. pp. 1–140. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-805357-7.00001-0. ISBN 978-0-12-805357-7. <a href="978-0-12-805357-7" target="_blank">978-0-12-805357-7</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Green Rays". mintaka.sdsu.edu. <a href="http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/observing/greenray.html" target="_blank">http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/observing/greenray.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Welcome to Phenomenon! Your guide through the mysterious and unexplained". www.stateoftheart.nl. <a href="http://www.stateoftheart.nl/phenomenon/index2.html" target="_blank">http://www.stateoftheart.nl/phenomenon/index2.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Philip Mantle. "The Hessdalen Lights". Archived from the original on 4 April 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050404125856/http://www.outtahear.com/beyond_updates/Mantle/Hess.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20050404125856/http://www.outtahear.com/beyond_updates/Mantle/Hess.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"UQ scientist unlocks secret of Min Min lights". <a href="http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=4265" target="_blank">http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=4265</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Big Thicket National Preserve Virtual Field Trip". Archived from the original on 4 March 2005. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050304081817/http://geoexplorer.tamu.edu/bigthicket/stories/saratogalight.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20050304081817/http://geoexplorer.tamu.edu/bigthicket/stories/saratogalight.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Gagliardi, Jason (17 November 2002). "Behind the Secret of the Naga's Fire". Archived from the original on January 19, 2007 – via www.time.com. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070119083937/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501021125-391567,00.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070119083937/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501021125-391567,00.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>