The Elusive Green Flash

“If there be green in paradise, it cannot but be of this shade, which most assuredly is the true green of hope!”  Jules Verne, The Green Ray (1882)

The Green Flash is an optical phenomena that you can see shortly after sunset or before sunrise. It occurs when the sun is almost entirely below the horizon, with the upper edge still visible. For a second or two, the upper rim of the sun will appear green in color (or sometimes blue). It is usually observed from a low altitude where there is an unobstructed view of the horizon, such as on the ocean. 

The idea in Verne’s novel that one can predict where and when to observe the Green Flash has no scientific basis. The phenomena is said to offer a flash of clarity into one’s feelings and those of others.

“Its appearance destroys illusions and lies; and those who have had the good fortune to see it only once, can already see clarity in their hearts, and in those of others.”  Jules Verne 

If an ordinary sunset symbolizes death, exemplified by the death of summer, then the extraordinary sunset that produces the Green Flash could symbolize a recovery of life - and of the happiness that life brings, especially in the summertime.

You need two things to see a Green Flash: 1) a clear day with no haze or clouds on the horizon 2) a distant horizon, and a distant edge to the horizon. Note: Don’t look at the sun until it is nearly entirely below the horizon or you can damage your eyes.

“When the last little bit of the sun is just on the horizon, it’s broken up into what is basically a rainbow,” David Smith, a retired UVI Physics Professor was quoted in explaining the phenomena. “So when it still looks red, the green is up above you, and then as the sun goes down, you get into that little part of the rainbow that’s green.” 

As the sun’s disk diminishes, the green light becomes concentrated and separates from the other colors, creating the brilliant Green Flash that captivates observers.

It’s well worth the hunt. Whether it warms the heart, clears the mind, or signals a bright future, The Elusive Green Flash is spectacular!