(Northern Green Flash)---Astronomy Picture of the Day

NASA ^ | June 23, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: As seen from Frösön island in northern Sweden the Sun did set a day after the summer solstice. From that location below the arctic circle it settled slowly behind the northern horizon. During the sunset's final minute, this remarkable sequence of 7 images follows the distorted edge of the solar disk as it just disappears against a distant tree line, capturing both a green and blue flash. Not a myth even in a land of runes, the colorful but ellusive glints are caused by atmospheric refraction enhanced by long, low, sight lines and strong atmospheric temperature gradients.

[SunkenCiv]

[Image Credit & Copyright Göran Strand]

[SunkenCiv]

Sorry, ran quite late on this one.

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[Graewoulf]

ROYG; Wow! Never knew it was that close to the Sun’s Disc.

[PzLdr]

Jeremy Gibbs and Hector Barbosa described the event in detail in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s end”.

[hinckley buzzard]

Used to watch sunsets in the desert outside Tucson. You could sometimes see the green flash if you knew to watch for it. Fortunately I had a good friend who was a solar astronomer at Kitt Peak who clued me in.

[TheOldLady]

What a treat! More green (and BLUE!!) flashes. I may never see them first hand, but I do appreciate the photos.

Thank you, Mr. Civilizations.