While driving home tonight (Sat.) on I-215, I glanced at the sun, about to set. Only a small portion was still visible, in a very low spot between two peaks. When only a VERY small section was all that remained, it suddenly turned an emerald green for perhaps a half a second, then the sun was gone completely. It took me by pleasant surprise, as my mind was not on astronomy at that moment. I have seen the Green Flash over the Pacific Ocean before, never on land. In fact, never from anywhere in Utah until tonight. Has anyone else seen the Green Flash from the east bench, or lower in the valley? Anywhere along the Wastach front? Chuck __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com
Chuck Hards wrote:
Has anyone else seen the Green Flash from the east bench, or lower in the valley? Anywhere along the Wastach front?
At about the same time I was driving west on I-80 and also watched for the green flash as the Sun was setting over Stansbury Island. Alas, the Sun disappeared but no flash. Several years ago while headed out I-80 and watching the Sun set behind Stansbury I saw the only green flash I've ever seen. Actually, I saw two! The first as the Sun went behind one of the taller peaks. Then as I drove further, part of the Sun reemerged from the behind the peak and when that part went away, I got the second green flash of the evening. Patrick
Hi Chuck, I have seen the green flash many times from the Wasatch Front. I see it a couple of dozen times per year. I see it most often when it sets over the lake, but I have also seen it when it sets over the Oquirrhs (rarely). Once I was driving to Logan near Willard Bay. The Sun was placed so that it would go behind peaks on Promontory Point. I saw the flash six or seven times in a few minute period! My favorite sighting was in Carlsbad, CA. I was sitting on a deck overlooking the ocean watching the sunset. I had a 60mm spotting scope also, watching the sailboats. Just as the Sun was about 20% set, I looked at it throught the spotting scope. (LOTS of atmospheric extinction, but probably still not safe. I saw two sailboats sihlouetted against the Sun, and the edge and top of the Sun were torn and highlighted in green! There were also some sunspots visile. This is one of those pictures that is etched in your mind. I DO NOT RECOMMEND LOOKING AT THE SUN THROUGH ANY OPTICAL AID. I just mention this experience because it was SO spectacular. I think all it takes around here is to look frequently. I have seen the green flash from the airport, the beaches, I-80, and many other places. Brent --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
While driving home tonight (Sat.) on I-215, I glanced at the sun, about to set. Only a small portion was still visible, in a very low spot between two peaks.
When only a VERY small section was all that remained, it suddenly turned an emerald green for perhaps a half a second, then the sun was gone completely.
It took me by pleasant surprise, as my mind was not on astronomy at that moment.
I have seen the Green Flash over the Pacific Ocean before, never on land. In fact, never from anywhere in Utah until tonight.
Has anyone else seen the Green Flash from the east bench, or lower in the valley? Anywhere along the Wastach front?
Chuck
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participants (3)
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Brent Watson -
Chuck Hards -
Patrick Wiggins