Brocken spectre

The Spectre of the Brocken is an optical effect, which was first observed on the chunks of Johann Esaias silver strike in 1780 and described:

" When the shadow of the observer falls on a fog or cloud layer, the shadow is not shown by a solid surface, but individually by each water droplet of the mist. This allows the brain to shadow not see stereoscopically and overestimated the size significantly. By air movement, the shadow moves, even if the observer is standing still. This seemingly separate beings can also float to have to floor without visible contact. The other physical conditions on the mountain, cool and moist air, silence and the lack of orientation through lack of foresight and lack of neighboring mountains, reinforce the subjective impression of the apparent existence of a ghost. "

Often, passes through another optical effect called glory, in addition, a colored halo around the shadow on.

On the chunks are often halos observed, but in exactly the opposite direction facing the sun. In the literature they are sometimes mistakenly mentioned, along with the specter of the Brocken.

The effect of the Brocken specter can also be observed on other mountains or even in fog in the light of car headlights. The Brocken offers over 300 foggy days a year on average chance.