Canigou Mountain from Marseille, France

February 07, 2008

020708

Provided by: Jean Francois Coliac
Summary authors & editors: Jean Francois Coliac, Jim Foster

The photo above showing a beautiful crimson and gold sunset was taken from Marseille, France on January 12, 2007. In the background (at right center), notice the Canigou Mountain -- at the eastern end of the Pyrenees Range, along the border of France and Spain. This mountain is approximately 165 miles (253 km) away! What is shown here is simply the image of the mountain and not the actual mountain itself. Note that most of the distance between Marseille and the Pyrenees Range is over the Mediterranean Sea.

Without considering the effect of atmospheric refraction, these mountains are far too distant to be observed from Marseille. However, on occasion, atmospheric conditions permits objects typically too far away to be easily observed to come into clear view. On this evening, summits in the Pyrenees Mountains higher than about 7,546 ft (2,300 m) can be detected. 

Notre Dame de la Garde is at the lower right center of the photograph. The faint vertical streak just above the horizon at left center is Comet McNaught.

Photo details: Canon 300D camera, 300 mm telephoto lens, f/4.5.

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