A flattened and reddened moon rises from the Atlantic Ocean. Its top is stepped into several layers.

Ordinary atmospheric refraction causes the flattening. Earth�s atmosphere increases in density nearer the ground. Low moon or sun rays penetrating into the ever more dense air are deflected (refracted) downwards.

The rays then appear to come from higher in the sky � the sun�s image is raised up. The lower part of the moon is raised most resulting in the squashed pumpkin shape.

But the atmosphere is never quite ordinary or normal. Air layers at different temperature, particularly in temperature inversions, cause further refractions to give the stepped appearance. When they are more extreme the moon or sun is miraged. More extreme still and we see mock-mirage green flashes. There is green at the moon's upper rim in the top image but that is more green rim than green flash.