Green Flash over Alexandria
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

On 14 August 2007, the weather was mild, and the western horizon was clear. It was an opportunity for BA Senior Astronomy Specialist, Aymen Ibrahem, to record a fascinating sunset phenomenon, the green flash effect. Ibrahem observes sunset daily, as part of his work on optical atmospheric phenomena.

"When the Sun was about to touch the horizon, a sunset mirage occurred," said Ibrahem. The sunset mirage occurs due to the refraction of sunlight through air layers of different temperatures. "I observed another Sun, emerging from the sea, and moving upwards. Actually, it was an inverted image of the Sun. The two Suns merged to form a distorted image of the setting Sun, known as the Etruscan vase." Thus, Ibrahem expected to observe the rare green flash, which sometimes follows the sunset mirage.

Sunset Mirage
An inverted image of the Sun appears to rise from the western horizon, and merges with the setting Sun.
Image date: 14 August 2007
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

The Omega Sun or the Etruscan Vase Effect
In this image, the Sun resembles the Greek letter omega.
Image date: 14 August 2007
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

"Anxiously, I was taking a series of images, hoping to record the green flash. When the last shard of the Sun disc was still visible on the horizon, it glimmered in a fascinating green color, for about a second, before sinking in the sea. That was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever observed."

Further Reading

A Green Star
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Aymen Mohamed Ibrahem
Senior Astronomy Specialist