An unusual green flash in the sky. Let’s explain

Swedish photographer Peter Rosen captured an extremely rare optical phenomenon while photographing the morning sky over Stockholm. It was a green flash on Venus. What is most interesting, however, is that this unusual effect, even though it is the hottest planet in the solar system, was influenced by cold.

The lower layers of the Earth’s atmosphere they act like a prism, splitting light. That’s why a planet passing close to the horizon – or any other object – can turn into a miniature rainbow. The increase in air density caused by the drop in temperature further intensifies the effect. There is usually only one problem.

From a viewer’s perspective, objects in the sky move extremely fast. So it’s hard to see them with the naked eye. It’s a different story when you have the right camera.

Interestingly, according to the rules of optics, the flash should be blue. Only, here, various pollutants of the Earth’s atmosphere gain the pedestal. Ultimately, we see clearly greenish light.