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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Green Flash from the Sun
NASA ^ | June 04, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 06/04/2014 9:53:09 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Many think it is just a myth. Others think it is true but its cause isn't known. Adventurers pride themselves on having seen it. It's a green flash from the Sun. The truth is the green flash does exist and its cause is well understood. Just as the setting Sun disappears completely from view, a last glimmer appears startlingly green. The effect is typically visible only from locations with a low, distant horizon, and lasts just a few seconds. A green flash is also visible for a rising Sun, but takes better timing to spot. A dramatic green flash, as well as an even more rare red flash, was caught in the above photograph recently observed during a sunset visible from the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos in the Canary Islands, Spain. The Sun itself does not turn partly green or red -- the effect is caused by layers of the Earth's atmosphere acting like a prism.

June 04, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; science
[Credit & Copyright: Daniel López (El Cielo de Canarias)]

1 posted on 06/04/2014 9:53:09 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 06/04/2014 9:53:36 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Travis McGee

John D. MacDonald ping


3 posted on 06/04/2014 9:57:43 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: SunkenCiv


4 posted on 06/04/2014 10:13:44 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: SunkenCiv
This phenomenon was a cover story in Scientific American about fifty years ago.

It's an atmospheric refraction effect caused by temperature gradients, IIRC.

5 posted on 06/04/2014 10:14:53 AM PDT by Steely Tom (How do you feel about robbing Peter's robot?)
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To: SunkenCiv; thackney

Weird article, where they say cause unknown in the beginning, then give the cause at the end...oh well - neat pic!

& thackney,
Thanks a LOT for sending me on that search - heh.
Side note, did JDM frequently use lefty plots?
“Thanks to its pro-eco stance, A Flash of Green was financed by and telecast as an edition of PBS’ American Playhouse.”


6 posted on 06/04/2014 10:20:24 AM PDT by spankalib ("I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.")
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To: SunkenCiv

That was just me trying out my Green Latern Ring, nothing to see here...


7 posted on 06/04/2014 10:21:54 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: spankalib
did JDM frequently use lefty plots?

What I remember from being a young teenager reading my Grandfather's collection was more focused on living on boats, and aerobic activity with females.

8 posted on 06/04/2014 10:23:17 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: SunkenCiv; MinuteGal

I’ve seen several of these over the last 15 years while vacationing on Captiva Island (west coast of Florida). There’s a restaurant on the Island named The Green Flash. If you like to watch sunsets like I do...these are a rare but exciting ending to a beautiful west coast Florida sunset.


9 posted on 06/04/2014 10:27:47 AM PDT by ThomasMore (Islam is the Whore of Babylon!)
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To: SunkenCiv

Alien spacecraft deploying a thermonuclear device ???

(Then again, the Sun *is* one HUGH H-bomb ;)


10 posted on 06/04/2014 10:44:15 AM PDT by mikrofon (APOD Bump)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sailors have always known about green flash. At sea a green flash can be observed in about 50% of sunsets.


11 posted on 06/04/2014 10:57:45 AM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: GraceG
That was just me trying out my Green Latern Ring, nothing to see here...

In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power... Green Lantern's light!

12 posted on 06/04/2014 12:31:54 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Truth sounds like hate to those who hate truth.)
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To: SunkenCiv
When we get to see them, the horizon needs to be completely cloud free. It often appears to be, but when the sun gets close, a los layer of cloud can be seen that ruins the chance for a flash.

Wife is better at spotting them than me, I tell her she is just more suggestive............

13 posted on 06/04/2014 2:29:52 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: thackney; Travis McGee

John D. MacDonald ping


That was one of his novels I enjoyed. (Oh, heck, I enjoy them ALL!)

Funny thing is someone made a movie / PBS show of the novel (any way our local PBS station played it). It was so boring I couldn’t watch it. The novel just didn’t translate OR the scriptwriters blew it. I’m gonna go with “scriptwriters blew it,” since “The Executioners” translated SO DARN WELL into Cape Fear.


14 posted on 06/04/2014 2:49:50 PM PDT by Peet (Liberals are the feces that are created when shame eats too much stupid. -Dale Gribble)
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To: thackney; spankalib

did JDM frequently use lefty plots?

-——— -——— -——— -——— -———

What I remember from being a young teenager reading my Grandfather’s collection was more focused on living on boats, and aerobic activity with females.


That is the Travis McGee series, thackney.

JDM also wrote a lot about Florida life — real estate development with corruption, weather, and so on.

He also wrote a science fiction series that has a kind of C. S. Lewis feel to it without the religious overtones.

Also see the DELIGHTFUL “The Girl, The Gold Watch, and Everything.” (I’m STILL looking for the T.V. mini-series made from that novel.)

Sorry to go on, but I’m a fan since the 1960s. Blab, balb...


15 posted on 06/04/2014 2:57:13 PM PDT by Peet (Liberals are the feces that are created when shame eats too much stupid. -Dale Gribble)
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To: SunkenCiv

I have looked for the green flash but have never seen it.

Nice pic. I thought the flash would be bigger than that.


16 posted on 06/04/2014 6:09:55 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: Peet
He also wrote a science fiction series

What were those named? It has been decades since I've read his work but I used to wear out the books my Grandpa had.

17 posted on 06/05/2014 5:10:42 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney

What were those named?


Wine of Dreamers
Ballroom of the Skies

Short SF stories: Other Times, Other Worlds

Fantasy: The Girl, The Gold Watch & Everything (novel)
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080792/
- Robert Hayes and Pam Dawber (miscast brunette)


18 posted on 06/05/2014 10:39:45 AM PDT by Peet (Liberals are the feces that are created when shame eats too much stupid. -Dale Gribble)
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To: Peet

http://youtu.be/mwZOT30M6AU


19 posted on 06/07/2014 9:42:57 PM PDT by WSGilcrest (/s)
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