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Sunspot Baby · 04-08-2009, 05:08

For scientific explanation, take look at the links on RickD's post above. Good explanation in the last (stuff in the sky) link. Scroll down near the end.

anjou · 04-08-2009, 05:15

The Aurora Borealis has a green tinge to it and Ive also seen the sky appear green prior to heavy snow, but ive always thought that was a reflection of vegitation in the clouds.

tami · 04-08-2009, 07:45

this is kind of the definitive green flash page

A Green Flash Page

Islandmike · 04-08-2009, 14:42

In the many years that I lived in Noank CT on Fisher Island Sound we saw it once. It was quick and while it was awesome, it lasted such a short period of time I am not sure how awesome it really was. It has been over 30 years since we observed it. I guess the thing about it is we can say is that we saw it, for whatever that is worth....

Vic de Beer · 25-09-2009, 05:07

HA....... that elusive green flash....... notice that Hinekin beer is sold wherever these flashes are seen?

It's that green bottle floating on the horizon that catches the suns last rays...

Kefaa · 25-09-2009, 05:33

Madagascar Green Flash has this image and an explaination of light refraction causes.

Greenflash35 · 25-09-2009, 05:39

Hello.

Greenflash35 · 25-09-2009, 06:11

You can see the Green Flash off Charleston SC, USA this weekend Sept 25Th 09. After that we'll be in the Yard for a long time.

**sarafina** · 25-09-2009, 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenflash35

You can see the Green Flash off Charleston SC, USA this weekend Sept 25Th 09. After that we'll be in the Yard for a long time.

smarty pants ; -)

We saw them from our 8th floor balcony in Panama City, Panama on a reasonably regular basis.

They were like rainbows, a treat no matter how often you had seen them before.

MarkJ · 25-09-2009, 07:45

Once you know what to look for they are easy to spot. That is of course in the right clear sky, no pollution, clear horizon etc.

The photo posted by Kefaa shows what to look for. Its not some blinding flash across the sky. The last tippy bit of the sun just turns green for half a second and the spectrum of colours refract (or reflect?). As you will no doubt remember when the red goes out of the sun the orange is still there and visible, then it goes and you see yellow, and then green, blue indigo and violet - hang on - violet then indigo (I was just testing you!).

The green you only see for a moment the last lip of the sun just turns green, it doesnt <<Flash>> and I forget why you don't see blue, but you would be able to if the sky was 'perfect' and I dunno about the last two. I think everyone has cracked a beer by then.

So to see the green flash stand on the shore (or the boat) on an offshore island and watch the sun go down in a clear sky. When the sun is half way below the horizon you can look at it a bit and when you can look at it without hurting your eyes you will be able to see the edge sinking... just keep watching the sinking bit till it looks about what the photo Kefaa shows.

Then you'll see it often

as long as conditions are perfect.

Wikipaedia has some other photos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_flash

**David M** · 25-09-2009, 07:57

It has to do with how light is refracted (bent) through our atmosphere.

From Wikipedia: Higher frequency light (green/blue) curves more than lower frequency light (red/orange), so green/blue rays from the upper limb of the setting sun remain visible after the red rays are obstructed by the curvature of the earth.

The Wiki page goes into some interesting detail.
Green flash - Wikipedia

barnakiel · 25-09-2009, 17:04

This green flash stuff only visible over the US territory or only to US citizens or smthng??

Have been sailing all my life, almost, and around once and a half - never seen the thing. Asked so many people and the only stories I heard were always from USAmericans, esp Californians (any relationship with higher consumption of ganja there ???;-)))

Where do I get the highest probability to see one?

BTW Have seen a (?) moonbow (a night rainbow caused by the moon - not colored but just a white arc) and thought I was dreamin', then looked up on the net and indeed such a thing exists. Sort of cool too.

b.