Saturday Sunset-The Green Flash
First a little explanation for those who have not heard of this phenomenon or think it a myth.
A Sunset Spectacle: The Green Flash Myth or Reality?
The “green flash” is the encore to Mother Nature’s spectacular sunset light show. Myths, legends and disputes about its existence are many, but there is no doubt the green flash is real. There is also no doubt that the flash sometimes is not green.
What is the Green Flash?
Like the name says, it is a flash of green seen at the beginning of sunrise and at the end of sunset, just above the disk of the setting sun. It usually appears in a clear sky. The flash can also be blue, yellow, green or violet. Green, however, is the most common.
What Causes the Green Flash Effect?
The green flash has much in common with the ordinary, everyday red and orange sunsets. The same characteristics and conditions are shared by both. The setting sun doesn’t just happen-behind the glowing colours, science is at work.
What the human eye sees during a sunset are bent light rays from a sun already down behind the horizon. The atmosphere is responsible for this bending. Therefore, what appears to be the tip of the sun sliding out of view is, in reality, an image created by these bent light rays.
More: Sunsets The Green Flash
Anyway, today near San Onofre, I caught one. Handheld too! No tripod just going for it. I was not terribly impressed with the sky what with no clouds, but I figured hey I scouted it, planned a bit and showed up for it. Time to push the button and hope for a good moment. Lucky me, first time I ever saw this, I caught it. Fleeting just a second or so.
Closeup, cropped way in-