A Green Flash from the Sun

October 27, 2000 3:45 PM

A Green Flash from the Sun - I always thought this was a myth, but if NASA says it's true... (and I believe everything I read).
posted by kokogiak (13 comments total)

You probably won't get much of a discussion thread, but I really appreciate it when people post links to beautiful/awe-inspiring images.

Thanks.


posted by silusGROK at 4:07 PM on October 27, 2000

yeah, this is real. not sure about what this image references(i guess i could read the caption, eh?) but it is a phenomenon that happens very infrequently and only under certain auspicious conditions. what conditions you ask?? i don't know.

there is a restuarant on the beach in san dieg'bro'(california, for you non-sunworshipping types) called *surprise!* The Green Flash. apparently, once in a great while, just as the sun drops below the horizon line, the tiniest portion of the top of the sun creates a brief green flash across the horizon line. the restuarant has a great deck where, presumably, one could see this happen. though, i guess you don't really have to be at the restuarant to see it.....
posted by donkeysuck at 4:21 PM on October 27, 2000

Just follow the links... Lots more great pictures of green flashes and blue flashes...
posted by yupislyr at 4:58 PM on October 27, 2000

I thought a green flash was what sailors were supposed to see (very rarely) when the sun set below a watery horizon and for just a second the beams of the sun travelled through the green ocean waters.
posted by ericost at 5:05 PM on October 27, 2000

I saw a green flash during sunset when I was in Hawaii. It's pretty common, but it's really quick.
posted by mathowie at 5:26 PM on October 27, 2000

Naww, its just the Sun taking photographs of silly looking humans. "They're made out of meat!" *giggle*

I love the astronomy photo of the day, its where I get all my backgrounds.
posted by skallas at 5:30 PM on October 27, 2000

Some great pics in that archive link you gave....
posted by grank at 6:20 PM on October 27, 2000

Its going green for Nader.
posted by skallas at 6:47 PM on October 27, 2000

Nader, eh? A momentary flash-in-the-pan... has no real lasting impact but is met with much fanfare... hmm, maybe so then!

[The above opinion is not necessarily my own, but is merely part of the ongoing effort to have all MeFi threads converge to high levels of Naderness.]
posted by youhas at 8:26 PM on October 27, 2000

I guess the law of all threads point to powazek is temporarily suspended during the election process?

There's quite the controversy surrounding these green flashes. I love stumbling across little unresolved (though greatly theorized upon) mysteries of science. This is a great link!
posted by cCranium at 7:42 AM on October 28, 2000

I've seen the green flash once, it was pretty cool! I was at the top of a hill in Austin, in my car, slowing down so I wouldn't miss it and trying to make sure no one was coming up behind me about to smash into me.

I was surprised, since it was over trees instead of water, which is where it's more typically seen, I think.

There's a French movie called "Le Rayon Vert" (The Green Ray) that I saw some years ago, it goes into this a bit. That's where I first heard of it. According to the movie, it's supposed to be a good luck thing, to see it.

I hope to see it again someday...
posted by beth at 7:49 AM on October 28, 2000

The sun's just got a cold. Filled with snot. Thas' all. No biggie.


posted by ZachsMind at 1:07 AM on October 29, 2000