Green Flash

May 25, 2012

Kulik green flash

Photographer
Bertrand Kulik
Summary Author: Andrea Console; Jim Foster

The photo above showing a green flash was snapped at sunset from Paris, France. An animation of a different green flash event was captured by Andrea Console near Rome, Italy. At sunset and sunrise, as a result of atmospheric dispersion, separate images of each spectrum color are generated causing the uppermost rim of the Sun to occasionally flash green. When all but the final portion of the upper green rim has dipped below the horizon, a burst of green light is sometimes visible, particularly when overlooking the ocean. For the flash displayed here, an inferior mirage likely plays a role. Always protect your eyes when observing near the Sun. Photo taken on May 12, 2012. 

Photo Details: Taken with a Camera Canon EOS and an Orion 80ED refractor.  

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