Proof of the Green Flash

For years, I've looked for the rumored "green flash" at sunset and never seen it. Just a couple more tequilas, I rationalized -- then I'll see it. Still, not a glimmer.

But here's proof, along w/ a layman's explanation -- as well as several other amazing light phenomena some of you may have witnessed in your travels.

CATCHING THE LIGHT

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http://www.OneMansWonder.com

Nice article, Jeff. I've heard about many of those phenomena, but not seen them all.

Having seen dozens of green flashes, some of the best from the top of the hill where Botkin's Mill (an abandoned sugar mill) sits overlooking Fountain Valley Golf Course (now called Carambola) on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, I've never doubted their existence, only the patience and comprehension of folks who live or spend considerable time in the tropics but say they've never seen it. You're not going to see stuff if you aren't paying attention.

In the winter of 88-89 in Florida we had a highly unusual aurora borealis visible in Florida. Most folks didn't know it then, but we about had our atmosphere blasted away by a massive solar coronal mass ejection event.

Last night I watched as the International Space Station gave us one of its most spectacular flyovers lasting over 6 minutes, visible from horizon to horizon and passing directly overhead. Looking around it appeared that not one other person even noticed it, as usual.

Another great spot if you are ever there is from El Nido,the roof top bar at the Los Cuatro Vientos in Puerto Vallarta.
This is where I first saw this phenomenae

Thanks, Rob. No one can say I haven't paid attention looking for the green flash. In fact, I've wondered if it's one of those things that the harder you try, the less likely you are to accomplish it.

Or, as is suggested by your photo (in which I see no trace of green), maybe you just have to really, really want and believe to see it.

CHASING THE LIGHT

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http://www.OneMansWonder.com

Jeff, I worked on the alaska marine highway ferry boat and some tug boats in the gulf of alaska many years. On the tug, They put me on watch at night, I was the only one steering the boat..I was really only a deckhand/cook and should not be on the bridge at night by my self. Well everything was going well and then I seen what looked like lots of spot lights going up in the air. I was headed for them and the last thing I wanted was to get the tug and barge messed up with a bunch of crab boats. I checked the radar and there was nothing there. Soon they went a way. Ps It was winter and very cold.
Next, I was on the bridge of the ferry Tustumena in the gulf of alaska headed to Prince William Sound. In the mouth of PWS there are no citys, no nothing. What I seen was a huge city all laid out.Soon it also want away.
You may know what it was---FATA MORGANA---it can do aome strange things.
I have never seen a green spot.
No, I was not smoking or drinking!!
"O"

Thanks, owiley -- very interesting. I looked it up - I guess it's a kind of mirage. Must have been pretty spooky seeing it in that remote location!
FATA MORGANA

One Man's Wonder

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http://www.OneMansWonder.com

Thanks, Rob. No one can say I haven't paid attention looking for the green flash. In fact, I've wondered if it's one of those things that the harder you try, the less likely you are to accomplish it.

Or, as is suggested by your photo (in which I see no trace of green), maybe you just have to really, really want and believe to see it.

There is a green flash in the photo at the bottom of the last light piece of the sun, but it is tiny in comparison to the one in your photo, and my experience is that rarely they look like the huge green flash that you found on the web somewhere. Yours was taken with a special camera at precisely the right moment of an extraordinarly large green flash. Mine was taken with a 20-year old Konica 35mm with a broken light meter while I was under the influence of mind altering substances, and it was sheer luck I even got that much of the green flash in the photo (I should either have waited a fraction of a second more or used a tripod and taken a time lapse shot).

Once you have seen it and know what you are looking for you will see it often. It must be a clear evening. It is very easy to see if you watch the LAST moments of the sunset through binoculars. Wait until the sun is almost gone or you could hurt your eyes.

Several years ago The National Geographic had a wonderful spread on the flashes, green, red and blue. IMO worth searching for.

...no, wait...now I think I see it! Limitations noted and forgiven.

Seriously, I guess I'd imagined it to be a pretty big flash; I guess it's really smaller than the diameter of the sun as seen at that distance, right?

One Man's Wonder

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http://www.OneMansWonder.com

That's a great idea, Heather! Think I'll try it...

One Man's Wonder

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http://www.OneMansWonder.com

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http://www.OneMansWonder.com

I've seen them several times over here on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
And there are times when a strong enough thermal inversion is present over the lake to see lights in Milwaukee, WI from Grand Haven or Muskegon, MI. These have been verified by timing the blink rate of one of the observed lights, and finding that it matched that of the Milwaukee harbor entrance light. I believe this is known as a superior image or mirage, but not properly a Fata Morgana.

The one time I saw it, it was all along the horizon. It was very brief. We were in the middle of the Mediterranean at the time, with no land in sight. I was with my wife and we turned to each other simultaneously, saying "Did you see that." It was probably 20 years ago. I've been waiting patiently since to see it again.

Hi Jeff. I watched for the green flash for years in Ixtapa. Finally about 6 years ago I saw the "famed event". It is real, but only lasts for a split second just at the instance the sun takes it's final bow before disappearing into the ocean. Since then I have witnessed it twice more. It's like "once you know what you're looking for" it is easier to spot. Of course there are still non-believers.

...no, wait...now I think I see it! Limitations noted and forgiven.

Seriously, I guess I'd imagined it to be a pretty big flash; I guess it's really smaller than the diameter of the sun as seen at that distance, right?

I know, I know. It only occupies about 1 pixel of the photo. I should rescan it at a higher resolution. As that last piece of sun disappeared it flashed only slightly larger. Then *poof* it was gone.

Larger ones are more infrequent and I've never caught one on film (or memory card).