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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 1742
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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To All
I just got back from Montauk Point where I had the opportunity to do some observing under dark skies. Despite a ever-brightening Moon in the evening I was still able to easily see the Milky Way from Aquila thru Cygnus and Cassiopia and into Perseus. The views thru my 12x63 binoculars, especially in Cygnus, were spectacular.
I would also get up early in the morning, once the Moon had set, to observe the winter Milky Way. I could easily follow it from Cassiopia, in the northwest, thru Perseus, Aurigae, passing Orion and heading into Canis Major. I spent some time observing Variable Stars and Open Clusters in Cassiopia and Aurigae.
Tuesday morning (10/7) I decided to watch the sunrise from the deck of our motel room (third floor) with my 12x63 binoculars. As the Sun started rising, over the ocean, a "bulge" appeared on the upper part of the solar disc and it appeared green! It was visible only for a second but in seeing this I realized I'd observed a "Green Flash". I'd heard of them and seen pictures of them but never thought I'd see one, especially from my motel room. I was successfully able to observe the Green Flash again on 10/8, this one appeared green with areas of blue in it, and again on 10/11 this one was green with areas of yellow in it. These Green Flashes only lasted about a second or two but under the right conditions were easy to observe with no two appearing the same.
Had a great trip and can't wait until next year.
Clear Skies.
Rich (RLTYS)
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10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr.
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.
"I want to do more then just look."
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cuzimthedaughter
cuzimthegenius
Reged: 08/14/07
Posts: 313
Loc: Touristville, CA
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I've heard of the 'green flash' but have only seen it on Pirates of the Caribbean 
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Celestron Nexstar 8SE (AKA Rachael); Orion Stratus 13mm & 17mm EPs; Green Light Saber; and a lot of other bank account draining accessories to go with her!
"I'm desperately trying to figure out why kamikaze pilots wore helmets" - Dave
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Exit-pupil
sage
Reged: 11/13/07
Posts: 206
Loc: Eastern Long Island, NY
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Rich, that's cool you got to see the green flash so many times. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Montauk. I live only about 15 miles from there, and 3500 feet from the ocean, and have seen the flash only once - and that was at sunset from a schooner off Key West, Florida!
Jono
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Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1532
Loc: Prescott, AZ
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Well there is an easy way to see the green flash, and even the blue one on many clear nights - but some might consider it cheating:
1) Wait for Venus to appear in the evening sky.
2) Use you telescope.
As Venus gets ever closer to the horizon, the magnification of your telescope will show the image begin to split, like a badly aligned projection TV. Eventually it begins to look like a stretched out, rainbow colored bar. Then the green flash happens in slow motion. From my home there is an intervening ridge line, but it is still close enough to the true horizon for the atmosphere to split the image. I can see green easily as Venus slides behind the ridge, and the blue image also.
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Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
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ChrisBrowning
newbie
Reged: 04/23/08
Posts: 75
Loc: Jackosnville,FL
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Quote:
Well there is an easy way to see the green flash, and even the blue one on many clear nights - but some might consider it cheating:
1) Wait for Venus to appear in the evening sky.
2) Use you telescope.
As Venus gets ever closer to the horizon, the magnification of your telescope will show the image begin to split, like a badly aligned projection TV. Eventually it begins to look like a stretched out, rainbow colored bar. Then the green flash happens in slow motion. From my home there is an intervening ridge line, but it is still close enough to the true horizon for the atmosphere to split the image. I can see green easily as Venus slides behind the ridge, and the blue image also.
That's not cheating, that's just smart.
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In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe - Carl Sagan
Member of North East Florida Astronomical Society (NEFAS)
 -Jacksonville,FL
Zhumell 10" Dob-10:1 Dual Speed Crayford Focuser
Meade ETX-60 'Backpack Observatory'
Televue Plossls 8 & 15 mm
Old 2.3x40 Constellation Binos
7x50 Alpen Binos
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mblack
Upperclass Twit of the Year
Reged: 10/31/05
Posts: 2336
Loc: Naples, Florida
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Sounds like a good trip, Rich 
Hope this is related enough to post, cause I don't know what to make of it.
Where I live, we have a lake on the east side of the house. On the opposite shore are several houses with white exteriors. Over a period of about 18 years these houses, once in a great while during sunset, get what the neighbors and I termed the 'mint' effect. They turn a shade of light green, lasting a minute, maybe two at most.
Is this related to the green flash? Or something else entirely?
I've never seen the green flash while looking at a sunset. Maybe 'oughta get to the beach more often.
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-Dave
C11 ~ CGE ~ 101mm refractor ~ EZtouch ~ various eyepieces
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RandyR
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 14076
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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Cool, ain't it?
I've only seen it a couple of times - one when on a cruise in the Hawai'ian islands and once watching the sunset from a deck in Malibu.
Some people don't even believe it exists, but once you've seen it, you'll believe.
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / NQ0R
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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RLTYS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 1742
Loc: New York (Long Island)
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Quote:
Sounds like a good trip, Rich
Hope this is related enough to post, cause I don't know what to make of it.
Where I live, we have a lake on the east side of the house. On the opposite shore are several houses with white exteriors. Over a period of about 18 years these houses, once in a great while during sunset, get what the neighbors and I termed the 'mint' effect. They turn a shade of light green, lasting a minute, maybe two at most.
Is this related to the green flash? Or something else entirely?
I've never seen the green flash while looking at a sunset. Maybe 'oughta get to the beach more often.
mblack
Not sure what you observed. The "Green Flash" lasts for only a second or two. You need a clear sky with a flat horizon and they say the higher up (altitude) you are the better. Also some optical aid (binoculars) is very helpful. I was on the third floor overlooking the ocean.
Thanks and Clear Skies.
Rich (RLTYS)
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10" F4.8 Refl.
4" F5 Refr.
50mm F12 Refr. (Tasco #6TE-5)
12x63 and 10x50 Binoculars.
"I want to do more then just look."
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Al Canarelli
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 1566
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I saw it once while fishing in Sandy Hook years ago. I saw it as the sun went down...we were fishing for Stripped Bass that night. It only lasts a few seconds just as the sun dips below the horizon, but if you happen to be looking in that direction, you can't miss it. I had no idea what I was seeing until I got home and did some research. I feel lucky to have seen it, as I understand you could live a lifetime and never see it again.
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ChrisBrowning
newbie
Reged: 04/23/08
Posts: 75
Loc: Jackosnville,FL
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Quote:
I saw it once while fishing in Sandy Hook years ago. I saw it as the sun went down...we were fishing for Stripped Bass that night. It only lasts a few seconds just as the sun dips below the horizon, but if you happen to be looking in that direction, you can't miss it. I had no idea what I was seeing until I got home and did some research. I feel lucky to have seen it, as I understand you could live a lifetime and never see it again.
Sandy Hook, New Jersey?
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In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe - Carl Sagan
Member of North East Florida Astronomical Society (NEFAS)
-Jacksonville,FL
Zhumell 10" Dob-10:1 Dual Speed Crayford Focuser
Meade ETX-60 'Backpack Observatory'
Televue Plossls 8 & 15 mm
Old 2.3x40 Constellation Binos
7x50 Alpen Binos
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Al Canarelli
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 1566
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Sandy Hook, New Jersey?
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That's the place...NJ. There were 3 of us on board, myself and another on deck and another in the cabin. The two of us on deck saw the green flash and the other man missed it. It happened so fast that I actually questioned if I saw it or if my eyes were playing tricks on me. The man standing next to me assured me that we both saw the same thing.
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