The recent post with the sunset photos makes me curious. Who has actually seen the Green Flash? I know it's a phenomenon mostly of the tropics, but here in NorCal (Lat 38 degrees N+/-) I've seen it many times, including once about 20 years ago at SUNRISE. Never when I had a camera available, though. Comments? Stories? Scientific reasons? Suggestions as to under what conditions we might see the GF? Any FANTASTIC GREEN FLASH pix?
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Well Out to Sea
We have observed the Green Flash when well out to sea on trips to the Dry Tortugas. Here's a link to info and pictures. http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/
We have observed the Green Flash when well out to sea on trips to the Dry Tortugas. Here's a link to info and pictures. http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/
Yes - several times in the Carribean
We were on a Wind Jammer cruise last year year in the Grenadines and we saw it several times at sunset. One time it was especially good. There is a lot of controversy as to weather it really occurs or it is a mind/eye thing.
We were on a Wind Jammer cruise last year year in the Grenadines and we saw it several times at sunset. One time it was especially good. There is a lot of controversy as to weather it really occurs or it is a mind/eye thing.
While off of San Diego
I saw the flash at sunrise. We were doing sea trials on the USS Nereus. Very moving sight which I'll not forget..
I saw the flash at sunrise. We were doing sea trials on the USS Nereus. Very moving sight which I'll not forget..
Only once!
Saw the green flash last year in November on a sail from Key West to Burnt Store. Have looked numerous times with no result.
Saw the green flash last year in November on a sail from Key West to Burnt Store. Have looked numerous times with no result.
too funny
This past summer I worked on the Nautica Queen , a dinner/cruise ship holding about 300 people. My watch was the observation deck. In the spring we had cruise after cruise of kids, all under 18. They wre from the east coast and asked lots of questions, like "Is Lake Erie salt water or fresh?" On every cruise I brought up the green flash if the conditions were right. We tend to get clouds low on the horizen that kills any chance of seeing the green or blue flash. It was fun to have these giddy, hi-sprung kids looking for it, and get an interest in boating, the lake, and astronomy. Well as the summer progressed even the crew got into it. They would mysterialy arive on deck at sunset. Then one day they were all looking, along with about 2 dozen customers, when they all turned THE WRONG WAY just as it happened! There it was, the green flash! Then the rest of the cruise was spent pointing out Cleveland landmarks, and celestial ones too. Check out ASTRONOMY, type in "green flash" into the sites search engine, and enjoy.
This past summer I worked on the Nautica Queen , a dinner/cruise ship holding about 300 people. My watch was the observation deck. In the spring we had cruise after cruise of kids, all under 18. They wre from the east coast and asked lots of questions, like "Is Lake Erie salt water or fresh?" On every cruise I brought up the green flash if the conditions were right. We tend to get clouds low on the horizen that kills any chance of seeing the green or blue flash. It was fun to have these giddy, hi-sprung kids looking for it, and get an interest in boating, the lake, and astronomy. Well as the summer progressed even the crew got into it. They would mysterialy arive on deck at sunset. Then one day they were all looking, along with about 2 dozen customers, when they all turned THE WRONG WAY just as it happened! There it was, the green flash! Then the rest of the cruise was spent pointing out Cleveland landmarks, and celestial ones too. Check out ASTRONOMY, type in "green flash" into the sites search engine, and enjoy.
Santa Cruz
I saw the green flash one day in November about ten years ago while watching the sun set from the cliff at New Brighton Beach in Santa Cruz County. It was a warm, clear, cloudless day with flat seas no wind and a crisp horizon line. Haven't seen one since.
I saw the green flash one day in November about ten years ago while watching the sun set from the cliff at New Brighton Beach in Santa Cruz County. It was a warm, clear, cloudless day with flat seas no wind and a crisp horizon line. Haven't seen one since.
Over toward San Clemente Island
Saw it on both Friday and Saturday sunsets last weekend, Friday from Carlsbad and Saturday from Dana Point. You need a clear horizion and a temperature inversion in the distance. The conditions are favorable when the sun at sunset starts getting a squished look and seems to have bands in it, sort of like it was painted on a venetian blind. As it goes down below the horizion there will be sort of a green tinge on its edges. Glance at and away from the sun until it is about 90% down, then you can look at it without damage. Green flash happens a few seconds after the sun is below the horizion.
Saw it on both Friday and Saturday sunsets last weekend, Friday from Carlsbad and Saturday from Dana Point. You need a clear horizion and a temperature inversion in the distance. The conditions are favorable when the sun at sunset starts getting a squished look and seems to have bands in it, sort of like it was painted on a venetian blind. As it goes down below the horizion there will be sort of a green tinge on its edges. Glance at and away from the sun until it is about 90% down, then you can look at it without damage. Green flash happens a few seconds after the sun is below the horizion.
3 times in Hawaii
3 previous times in Hawaii. Nothing this last time, too much moisture in the air. I have even attempted to get a picture, but you know how those digital camera work. You push the button and 1 second later it takes the picture. That is just enough time to lose the sun to the horizon
3 previous times in Hawaii. Nothing this last time, too much moisture in the air. I have even attempted to get a picture, but you know how those digital camera work. You push the button and 1 second later it takes the picture. That is just enough time to lose the sun to the horizon
MANY times!
We have a Time Share condo in Naples, FL on the beach. We have a party every evening at sundown. Last April, over 6 nights, we saw the flash 3 times! FYI: A great read are the travis Magee books, set in FL. He lives on a boat. One book, I believe is CALLED "The Green Flash".
We have a Time Share condo in Naples, FL on the beach. We have a party every evening at sundown. Last April, over 6 nights, we saw the flash 3 times! FYI: A great read are the travis Magee books, set in FL. He lives on a boat. One book, I believe is CALLED "The Green Flash".
The Green Flash
Ah, this thread brings back great memories. About thirty years ago I worked on Guam and hung with a great bunch of sailors, one of whom had a cottage on the edge of a cliff overlooking a few million square miles of the western Pacific. Several of us gathered there most afternoons after work and came to refer to the place as the Green Flash, and later, as simply The Flash. We didn't see a green flash every day, but did often enough to maintain the name, and to arrive at a significant fact: When the flash occurs, there is no "I think I saw it!", or "I'm pretty sure there was one." It is very distinct, bright, and indisputably green.
Ah, this thread brings back great memories. About thirty years ago I worked on Guam and hung with a great bunch of sailors, one of whom had a cottage on the edge of a cliff overlooking a few million square miles of the western Pacific. Several of us gathered there most afternoons after work and came to refer to the place as the Green Flash, and later, as simply The Flash. We didn't see a green flash every day, but did often enough to maintain the name, and to arrive at a significant fact: When the flash occurs, there is no "I think I saw it!", or "I'm pretty sure there was one." It is very distinct, bright, and indisputably green.
Green Flash
I found this picture on the net check it out http://www.icstars.com/Mad/Astro/GreenFlash.html
I found this picture on the net check it out http://www.icstars.com/Mad/Astro/GreenFlash.html
Once . . . and completely unexpectedly
One evening on the beach on Providenciales (Turks and Caicos Islands) about three years ago. It was a textbook example, brilliant emerald green, a few seconds after the sun set. I agree with Ed H, There's no mistaking it when you see one. Peter H23 "Raven"
One evening on the beach on Providenciales (Turks and Caicos Islands) about three years ago. It was a textbook example, brilliant emerald green, a few seconds after the sun set. I agree with Ed H, There's no mistaking it when you see one. Peter H23 "Raven"
Green Flash
I have seen it 4 times in the 35 years since I first learned of the 'flash'. The first time was on the California coast North of San Francisco. It was almost 30 more years before I saw it again. The most memorable was on a passage from Seattle to Astoria. I was at the helm as the sun was setting, and there was enough of a swell that the boat was rising and falling in relation to the horizon. I stood on the helm seat, hung on to the backstay, and conscentrated on the setting sun. I saw the best green flash, plus a second as the boat rose on the swell bringing the sun just back to the horizon like a sunrise.
I have seen it 4 times in the 35 years since I first learned of the 'flash'. The first time was on the California coast North of San Francisco. It was almost 30 more years before I saw it again. The most memorable was on a passage from Seattle to Astoria. I was at the helm as the sun was setting, and there was enough of a swell that the boat was rising and falling in relation to the horizon. I stood on the helm seat, hung on to the backstay, and conscentrated on the setting sun. I saw the best green flash, plus a second as the boat rose on the swell bringing the sun just back to the horizon like a sunrise.
Heading to the Bahamas this weekend
I'm setting sail with some friends this weekend out of Port Charlotte Florida. Gonna go down to marathon then sail over to Gun Caye, then Andros Island. Not sure where were going from there. I have to be in Nassau on the 29th to fly back and join the Human Race....Maybey I'll get lucky and see the green flash, and if I get real luck take a picture of it.....Tim Welsh Hunter 34 S/V Cabo Wabo
I'm setting sail with some friends this weekend out of Port Charlotte Florida. Gonna go down to marathon then sail over to Gun Caye, then Andros Island. Not sure where were going from there. I have to be in Nassau on the 29th to fly back and join the Human Race....Maybey I'll get lucky and see the green flash, and if I get real luck take a picture of it.....Tim Welsh Hunter 34 S/V Cabo Wabo
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