Green Flashes and Green Rays are rare optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise. A green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun, or a Green Ray shoots up from the sunset point. It is usually observed from a low altitude where there is an unobstructed view of the horizon, such as on the ocean. They are regularly sighted by airplane pilots because they often can see the true horizon in midflight, more often while flying west. French writer Jules Verne published a novel in 1882 and named it after the optical phenomenon.
Green Ray
