A Green Flash from the Sun

Astronomy Picture of the Day · 2002-11-10 · NASA (public domain)

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A Green Flash from the Sun — APOD for 2002-11-10

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 .

Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2002-11-10 — image & explanation courtesy of NASA (public domain), mirrored at Tukuk-OS for reading and search convenience.

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