Stephen Cheatley shot the stunning sequence on camera from Ramsey on the Isle of Man as the full harvest moon rose over the sea. The unusual moonrise is also known as an Etruscan Vase moon because the optical effect makes it look as though the moon is on a stand. The effect, which is more usually seen in views of the setting sun rather than the rising full moon, is caused by differences in air temperature near the earth’s surface. The moon's light is warped by layers of air of different temperatures and the effect is similar to the mirage of a puddle of water on a road surface on a very hot day.
Stephen said: “Some of the frames show what is sometimes referred to as an Omega effect, where refraction creates an inferior mirage effect, making it look like the moon is on a stand. I’ve seen this at sunset many times, but this is the first I’ve seen it with the moon.”
Photographer Andrew Sharpe took pictures of the full Harvest Moon as it rose behind Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire. The Harvest Moon is the name given to the first full moon which takes place closest to the Autumn equinox. The name comes from when farmers needed to start gathering crops for the winter months and they used the bright light of the moon to make their working day longer.
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