The play of light and darkness creates an otherworldly atmosphere that leaves us mesmerized. As we gaze upon this image, we are transported to a world where shadows come alive and create an ethereal spectacle against the backdrop of the Harz mountains. This aerial view captured during the early 20th century showcases the historical significance and awe-inspiring beauty of this rare occurrence. The Brocken Spectre, also known as the Spectre of the Brocken, is a bizarre effect caused by projected shadows seen on the majestic Brocken mountain in Saxony, Germany. )" takes us back in time to witness a truly extraordinary natural phenomenon. This print titled "Brocken Spectre (Cig C. Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuriesįor licensing enquiries please contact Mary Evans Picture Libraryīizarre Brocken Caused Effect Harz Notably Phenomena Projected Saxony Shadows Spectre ![]() This account shows that the Brocken effect, where shadows are reflected onto mist banks giving the appearance of huge figures, has occurred on Ben Machdhui.THE SPECTRE OF THE BROCKEN a bizarre effect caused by projected shadows seen, notably, on the Brocken in the Harz mountains, Saxony, Germany To prove that the shadow seen by each individual was that of himself, we resorted to various gestures, such as waving our hats, flapping our plaids, &c., all which motions were exactly followed by the airy figure.' The representation appeared of the natural size, and the outline of the whole person of the spectator was most correctly portrayed. On the disc itself, each of the party (three in number), as they stood about fifty yards apart, saw his own figure most distinctly delineated, although those of the other two were invisible to him. In the centre of this incomplete circle there was described a luminous disc, surrounded by the prismatic colours displayed in concentric rings. The bow, of beautifully distinct prismatic colours, formed about two-thirds of a circle, the extremities of which appeared to rest on the lower portion of the mountain. We had turned towards the east, and the sun shone on our backs, when we saw a very bright rainbow described on the mist before us. 'Sir Thomas Dick Lauder describes such an appearance ("Edinburgh New Philosophic Journal, 1831.") "On descending from the top (of Ben Mac Dhui) at about half-past three P.M., an interesting optical appearance presented itself to our view. An early account of such an event occurs in 'In the Shadow of Cairngorm' by The Rev. Or in yet other words, it is a direct and beautiful macroscopic view of a microscopic quantum effect.Ī more reasonable explanation for some of the sightings of huge figures in the mist could be phenomena known as the Brocken spectre, named after the German mountains where the effect was first discovered. ![]() In other words, a part of the light from the sun which passes very close to a droplet actually goes in the droplet thanks to a tunnelling effect, and is sent back in the direction it came from via usual optical phenomena, including wavelength separation of colors, hence the aspect of multiple concentric rainbows. Up until 2003 no really clear explanation had yet been given, but a deeper mathematical analysis revealed that the main cause is a tunneling effect of incoming light on the surface of the water droplets, an effect which is not necessary in order to explain rainbows for instance. The sky above needs to be clear and usually some wind is needed to form the haze just on the downwind side of the mountain. It is sometimes visible from mountaintops and looks like a circle of rainbow colors around one's shadow projected on the haze below. ![]() Yet another colorful and rare phenomenon, the Brocken spectrum (also know as a glory), here a picture taken in central Italy.
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