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Credit & Copyright: Paolo Lazzarotti
Explanation:
This was one strange sunset.
For one thing, the
typically round Sun appeared distorted, geometrically,
and
multiply layered.
For another, some of these layers appeared unusually green.
The Sun,
of course, was just fine -- its odd appearance was caused entirely by its
light refracting in the
Earth's atmosphere.
When layers of the Earth's atmosphere are unusually warm, layers of the Sun may
appear distorted or even seen multiple times.
The effect is most
strong nearest sunrise and sunset when terrestrial
inversion layers
occupy distinct
altitudes
above the horizon.
Different colors
of the Sun may also become deflected by significantly different amounts, so that
the uppermost
superior image
may appear
momentarily green -- a
phenomenon known as a
green flash.
The featured image was taken in February from
Porto Venere,
Italy, with
San Pietro
church
situated in the foreground.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: sunset - green flash
Publications with words: sunset - green flash
See also: