Moonset Mirages

Since 2021, I have chased nearly thirty moonsets, and these few images are a rare collection capturing the elusive moonset mirages. Images (a), (c), and (d) display the classic Omega-shaped mirage. Image (b) captures a stroke of pure luck—an Omega moonset perfectly intersecting with a passing ship.
Meanwhile, in (e), a near first-quarter moon, sitting horizontally like a small boat, is distorted along its lower edge. Image (f) captures a setting full moon at dawn, its lower half flattened as it sinks into the sea of clouds.
The reason why moonset mirages make people want to chase them tirelessly and are so incredibly fascinating lies in the changes of lunar phases and the terrain of the lunar surface. Mirages look different depending on the lunar phase, and the lunar topography allows us to see the changes in the mirage more clearly.
Observing a moonset, just like a sunset, requires clean and transparent atmospheric conditions and a suitable observation location. However, observing a moonset is much more difficult, mainly due to the vast differences in setting time and brightness.
First is the difference in observation time. If you fail to observe the sunset today, you can come back at around the same time tomorrow. But what about the moonset? Tomorrow you have to come back about 50 minutes later, and the day after tomorrow another 50 minutes later... In other words, to observe a moonset, within a month you may have to wait for the moon to set at dusk, in the evening, late at night, in the midnight hours, until dawn, or even during the day—and of course, the sky must be clear enough.
The second major difficulty is brightness. Compared to the sun, the moon is much dimmer. In my photography experiences, the final moonset is actually almost invisible, and it requires a significant increase in exposure to be successfully photographed.
Chasing moonset mirages is not about chasing the moon itself, but rather the forever-irreplicable moments gifted to us by the atmospheric magician.

Canon R7 +SIGMA 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 S DG OS HSM Sports

Use PowerPoint to crop and combine six photos of a moon mirage taken at different times.