Green Rim Observed from Yachats, Oregon

November 13, 2018

Green Flash (1)

November 2018 Viewer's ChoicePhotographer: Michael Burdic 
Summary Author: Michael Burdic 

While at Yachats, Oregon, this past September I was finally able to observe the green rim. As the name implies, the green color associated with this atmospheric phenomenon is of very short duration -- less than a second or two. Best observed over large bodies of water, these flashes occur because when the Sun is low in the sky (near or on the horizon), the atmosphere can behave like a prism, separating sunlight into different colors. If atmospheric conditions are favorable, and you have a sharp eye and are patient, you just might notice a burst of green or emerald light (purple and blue are sometimes observed) along the Sun's upper rim. The photo at bottom shows a detached fragment. Always be careful when looking anywhere near the Sun. Photo taken on September 24, 2018.

Photo Details: Nikon P-900 camera; f-8; 1/2500 exposure; ISO 100; between 7:06 and 7:08 p.m.

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