The Green Flash

By Minnesotastan in Pictures, Science & Tech on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:32 pm

The “green flash” is not a superhero, but an optical phenomenon more talked about than seen.

The truth is the green flash does exist and its cause is well understood. Just as the setting Sun disappears completely from view, a last glimmer appears startlingly green… The effect is typically visible only from locations with a low, distant horizon, and lasts just a few seconds… the effect is caused by layers of the Earth’s atmosphere acting like a prism.

There is a gallery of photos in Wikipedia; the one embedded above comes from the archives of Astronomy Picture of the Day, a wonderful source for photos of both astronomical and atmospheric phenomena.

Link.

Tags: green flash, sunset

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

pwscott
Nov 27th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I’ve seen this a few times and it lasts longer when you’re moving toward it. Not much longer. :p
Minnesotastan
Nov 27th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
If you’re moving toward the sunset and the color changes from red to green, you’re moving very fast…
budgie98
Nov 27th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I’ve seen this 3 times in the UK, from the North Kent coast where the artist JMW Turner studied the skies.
Skipweasel
Nov 27th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I took a photo of several people seeing the green flash. Did I see it? No – I was looking the other way taking a photo of friends watching the sunset.
namowal
Nov 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I’ve wanted to see it for years, but something always goes wrong. The closest I got was a near perfect condition- a clear day by the beach. I kept a close eye on the sun as it vanished below the horizon- and someone walked in front of me at the crucial moment.

Keep track of the comments with

Comment RSS

Lijit Search

The latest from NeatoBambino: