The island can be visible from high points in Brighton on very clear days, including the top floors of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton Racecourse and Hollingbury Hill Fort.
Yet, Alex Ghionis, a research fellow in chemical and biological security at Sussex University, thinks the silhouette in the picture he took could be a phenomenon known as a superior mirage.
A superior mirage occurs when there is a temperature inversion, meaning the air below the line of sight is colder than the air above it.
Passing through the temperature inversion, the light rays are bent down and so the image appears above the true object, hence the name superior.
Alex believes the shape in this red outline is a superior mirage (Image: Alex Ghionis)
The 36-year-old, who lives in Seven Dials, said: “I think the outline of the Isle of Wight from Brighton beach is a superior mirage.
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“It would have formed due to the extremely cold weather and some temperature inversion in the atmosphere – although it is a rare and quite spectacular thing to see.”
Alex posted the image to Facebook. Some thought it was the land behind Worthing toward Selsey, but this is mostly flat and therefore unlikely to appear above Worthing in the distance.
The Isle of Wight in the centre of the sea, seen from allotments in Brighton (Image: Alex Cope)
Sig Hobden said: “That looks like a cloud to me. I’ve never seen the Isle of Wight that far north behind Worthing.
Alex said that was his initial thought, but the shape is almost identical to silhouettes of the east side of the Isle of Wight.
“According to maps, the location would be accurate,” Alex added.
Others, though, agreed with Alex that it could be a view of the outline of the island.
Matthew Wolfe said: “I can confirm, having been by boat a few times, that what you are seeing is St Catherine’s Down on the Isle of Wight.”
Lucy Cage added: “I often see Isle of Wight from Freshfield Road but how amazing that it can be visible at sea level on rare occasions.”
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