11/11/2002: Green flash from the sun

Undertoad · 11-11-2002, 10:39 AM

From the Astronomy Pic of the Day comes this interesting bit. We've had images of phenomena like this before, but nothing green.

The official caption:

Many think it is just a myth. Others think it is true but its cause isn't known. Adventurers pride themselves on having seen it. It's a green flash from the Sun. 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. A green flash is also visible for a rising Sun, but takes better timing to spot. A dramatic green flash was caught in the above photograph in 1992 from Finland. The Sun itself does not turn partly green, the effect is caused by layers of the Earth's atmosphere acting like a prism.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-11-2002, 04:34 PM

It's green with envy because it's not the moon.

henry fitch · 11-11-2002, 09:39 PM

My grandfather was always talking about this. Said if a good boy looked right at the setting sun, he'd see the green flash.

Now I almost wish I had been a good boy.

11-11-2002, 10:39 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	11/11/2002: Green flash from the sun From the Astronomy Pic of the Day comes this interesting bit. We've had images of phenomena like this before, but nothing green. The official caption: Many think it is just a myth. Others think it is true but its cause isn't known. Adventurers pride themselves on having seen it. It's a green flash from the Sun. 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. A green flash is also visible for a rising Sun, but takes better timing to spot. A dramatic green flash was caught in the above photograph in 1992 from Finland. The Sun itself does not turn partly green, the effect is caused by layers of the Earth's atmosphere acting like a prism.

11-11-2002, 04:34 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	It's green with envy because it's not the moon.

11-11-2002, 09:39 PM	#3
henry fitch Dry Nurse Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 23	My grandfather was always talking about this. Said if a good boy looked right at the setting sun, he'd see the green flash. Now I almost wish I had been a good boy.

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