# I caught the Green Flash! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571 "2012-09-23T05:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/1 "2012-09-23T05:33:12Z")
I took this at sunset from Ko Olina, Oahu: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/8302/8014379604_d0016891ac_b.jpg "Flash") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/8014379604/in/photostream) More information [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_flash). ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/2 "2012-09-23T05:46:27Z")
In my iPhone, the spot looks more yellowish than greenish in that photo. Will check in PC later. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/3 "2012-09-23T05:50:03Z")
> [@Indian](#): > > In my iPhone, the spot looks more yellowish than greenish in that photo. > > Will check in PC later. Clearly, you need [this](http://www.macgasm.net/2012/02/06/spyder-releases-ios-color-calibration-app-photographers/) app! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/4 "2012-09-23T05:59:26Z")
In my iPad 3 it is a greeny yellowy thing. On zooming green is more striking. Congrats! Are you a professional photographer? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/5 "2012-09-23T06:03:58Z")
> [@Indian](#): > > In my iPad 3 it is a greeny yellowy thing. On zooming green is more striking. > > Congrats! Are you a professional photographer? No, just a very-long time amateur. I do have a pretty nice camera (Nikon D90) and lens (18-200mm VR). ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/6 "2012-09-23T06:09:54Z")
**I caught the Green Flash!** I believe this is treated with erythromycin now. Remember to take all the pills, do not stop once the symptoms go away. A follow up appointment with your doctor in 30 days is recommended. Be sure to inform all people that you have had recent sexual contact with. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/7 "2012-09-23T07:35:20Z")
I thought it sounded like something out of a superhero comic: “I caught the Green Flash! Now, I will reveal his secret identity to the world…And after that, Super City will be mine! **Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!** ” Can the Green Flash escape the clutches of his old enemy, Beowulff the Berserker? Is Super City DOOMED? Find out in the next thrilling episode of _THE GREEN FLASH!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/8 "2012-09-23T07:54:27Z")
I think it would make a great “Sheldon” shirt… ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/9 "2012-09-23T12:00:55Z")
Wow, beowulff, congratulations are in order! Nice shot! I haven’t had many chances to try, but have always tried when I could, and am convinced it isn’t easy and I don’t know if it will ever work for me. This one is beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/10 "2012-09-23T12:36:02Z")
That is very cool, **Beowulff**! What causes it, anyway? Last time I read about it, no-one seemed to know. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/11 "2012-09-23T14:27:38Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That is very cool, **Beowulff**! > > What causes it, anyway? Last time I read about it, no-one seemed to know. Cecil covered this in a column called [“What is ‘green flash’ at sunset all about?”](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1086/what-is-green-flash-at-sunset-all-about) [QUOTE=Cecil Adams] Green flash is caused by atmospheric refraction–that is, the bending of sunlight as it passes through the air so that it splits into a rainbow of colors. Refraction causes the solar disk to be surrounded by ghost images like a cheap TV, with a violet/blue/green “shadow” above and a red/orange/yellow one below. None of this is visible except at sunrise and sunset, when refraction hits the max and the sun’s light is so reduced that the ghosts don’t wash out. The red ghost disappears below the horizon, the orange and yellow ones are absorbed by the atmosphere, the blue and violet ones scatter (usually), and what’s left is green. Count yourself lucky if you’ve seen it; you’re one of a privileged few. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/12 "2012-09-23T16:44:14Z")
I saw it just once, on a trip across the Straights of Georgia on a Canadian ferry. The conditions were perfect, a glassy dead calm, no clouds or other obstructions. I’d always heard of the Green Flash, and was aware that this might be the time. So I was watching closely, and there it was. A brilliant green color lasting, it seemed, less than a second. > [@](#): > > Count yourself lucky if you’ve seen it; you’re one of a privileged few. You’re not kidding! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/13 "2012-09-24T00:14:03Z")
Lucky bastard. I’ve wanted to see this for years, ever since we had a lesson on the topic in the optics course I TA’ed in grad school. I’ve looked, but I haven’t been n the right place, evidently. Usually the horizon is socked in with clouds, or hidden behind things. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/14 "2012-09-24T00:58:28Z")
I tried to see it in Key West, but wasn’t sure what it would look like. Nice picture, now I know what to expect next time I’m down there. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/15 "2012-09-24T01:59:11Z")
Congratulations! Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/16 "2012-09-24T06:58:11Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I do have a pretty nice camera (Nikon D90) and lens (18-200mm VR). Same as mine! Way better than “pretty nice.” ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/17 "2012-09-24T08:59:11Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > I thought it sounded like something out of a superhero comic: > > “I caught the Green Flash! Now, I will reveal his secret identity to the world…And after that, Super City will be mine! **Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!** ” > > Can the Green Flash escape the clutches of his old enemy, Beowulff the Berserker? Is Super City DOOMED? Find out in the next thrilling episode of > > _THE GREEN FLASH!!!_ Me too, I was wondering if the Green Flash was faster than the Red Flash. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/18 "2012-09-24T18:30:14Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Same as mine! Way better than “pretty nice.” I also have the Nikon 80-400mm VR lens, and a 1.4x teleconverter. Those would have helped tremendously with this shot, but I didn’t feel like shlepping them all over Hawaii, so I just brought my superzoom (and my fantastic Sigma 10-20mm). ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/19 "2012-09-24T18:35:28Z")
That means we’re going to get another crappy _Pirates of the Caribbean_ sequel, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571/20 "2012-09-24T18:39:21Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve looked, but I haven’t been n the right place, evidently. Usually the horizon is socked in with clouds, or hidden behind things. > Reply With Quote The horizon has got to be ABSOLUTELY clear. That’s why a glassy calm day way out on the water gives you the best chance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-green-flash/635571.md?page=2)