The Green Flash - Mt Pitt Sunset

Norfolk Island sunsets are so lovely, and I always get excited when I photograph another stunning sunset, as the golden colours fill the skies at the end of the day. Sometimes I am extra lucky, and I see a “Green Flash” as the sun sinks over the horizon. On 9^th October 2021, while photographing a sunset up Mt Pitt I captured a beautiful “Green Flash”, this was the second “Green Flash” for the year that I have photographed, the last was at Easter, 5^th April 2021.

In 2015 I saw my first sunset “Green Flash” and ever since I have watched sunsets hoping to view this wonderful event again. We are so lucky to have many places to watch the sunset and there is no better place on Norfolk Island than Puppy’s Point and up at the Mt Pitt summit.

While photographing the sunset, I also saw a sunspot on the sun. At first, I thought it was dirt on my lens, but moving the camera the spot stayed on the same place of the sun. I researched sunspots on the internet page “Space Weather” and the scientific data recorded that there was a sun flare on the same area, which was a new sunspot. My photograph showed this as a very small smudge on the image. When there are large sunspots and solar flares, this can interfere with communication systems and satellites and they also create spectacular auroras, known as the southern lights and northern lights. If you are interested in learning more about sunspots check this site.

https://www.spaceweather.com/?fbclid=IwAR2IyvL-UP0gpgQ1ZMG1jSOIzFW6LwxY-SF6D-fRzd-jLTzdq8aJXCKVYlI

I always have my camera ready to capture another stunning Norfolk Island golden sunset. The cloud on the horizon often stops the view of the sun slipping over the horizon into the ocean. As the sun starts dropping down and reaches the water’s edge, I always hope to see the last bit of light turn green. The colours appear with bright gold and green tinge round the edges and the green colour glows as the sun slips away into the sea. This is how I have viewed the “Green Flash”’ and I was so pleased that I had managed to capture these wonderful Norfolk Island sunsets.

It is interesting researching the “Green Flash” and it is fascinating learning about nature and the amazing world around us. During sunsets and sunrises, the sunlight passes through the thickest possible layer of the earth is atmosphere, and this bends the light slightly. This arc disperses the light through a prism and sea of the spectrum colours generated, just like we see when there are rainbows. I read that the first colour is Red, then comes Green and lastly Blue. The Blue light is scattered quickly and is less likely to be seen. The conditions must be just right for the “Green Flash” to be seen when the sun hits the horizon. I thought it was interesting to read that some suggest that the sea temperatures can be a reason and that a light swell on the ocean can also be helpful, and atmospheric changes can also be part of the reasons that the “Green Flash” appears.

Living on Norfolk Island we have a big advantage of being surrounded by the ocean and there are no obstacles apart for clouds when we watch the sunrise and sunset. Some lucky people have also viewed the “Green Flash” at sunrise, and that would be magic to see.

I have now seen the “Green Flash” multi times, maybe half a dozen times and I am always excited each time and it is fantastic to capture the “Green Flash” with my camera. It is so lovely to be able to share these images, as I feel so fortunate that I live on Norfolk Island and to have the opportunity to view and photograph the amazing beauty that surrounds us.

Remember, always protect your eyes when observing near the sun be careful not to look directly at the sun even at sunset and sunrise as it can damage your eyes.

If you are out watching the Norfolk Island sunset or sunrise, I hope you get a chance to see this rare event and if you are very lucky capture an image on your camera.

Betty Matthews

October 2021