The sky can flash green at sunset because the sun’s light bends as it passes through layers of air. When the sun is just about to set, its light has to travel through more air than usual, and different colors bend in slightly different ways. Sometimes, a quick flash of green appears at the top of the sun before it vanishes below the horizon. It's like when you look at something through a wobbly glass, you might see strange colors for just a second.
Examples
- A hiker notices a brief green light on the edge of the sunset as he walks through the mountains.
- You spot a quick green glow just before the sun disappears behind the buildings.
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See also
- Why Do We Have Different Kinds of Weather?
- How Do Glaciers Move?
- Why Do Oceans Glow in the Dark?
- Why Do Trees Change Color in the Fall?
- Why Do Some Trees Lose Their Leaves in Winter?
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Categories: Environment · optics,atmospheric phenomena,sunsets