Honeymoons & romance
Chasing the green flash
For a moment, just as the sun slips below the sea, a spark of green can appear at its edge. Blink and it is gone. Watching for it together is one of the loveliest rituals of a trip by the water.
Every beach has its sunset crowd: people pausing on the sand, glasses raised on terraces, conversations fading as the sky turns gold and pink. Among them, in many places by the sea, a few keen watchers will be staring at the exact spot where the sun meets the horizon, hoping to glimpse something rare. They are waiting for the green flash.
What the green flash is
Wikipedia's article on the green flash describes the green flash and green ray as meteorological optical phenomena that sometimes occur briefly around the moment of sunset or sunrise. When the conditions are right, it explains, a distinct green spot is briefly visible above the upper edge of the sun, and the green appearance usually lasts for no more than two seconds. Rarely, the flash can resemble a green ray shooting up from the point of sunset or sunrise.
It is not a myth or a trick of tired eyes. It is a real effect of light and air, and people who see it clearly rarely forget it.
Why it happens
The same article explains that green flashes occur because the Earth's atmosphere can separate the light from the sun into different colours, through refraction that varies with wavelength. The atmosphere acts a little like a prism. As the sun sinks, its light passes through a great thickness of air, and the different colours are bent by slightly different amounts. For a brief instant at the very last moment, the green part of the light can be seen on its own at the top of the sun's disc.
Wikipedia notes that green flashes are really a group of similar phenomena with slightly different causes, which is why some kinds are more common than others.
Conditions that help you see it
According to Wikipedia, green flashes may be observed from any altitude and are usually seen at an unobstructed horizon, such as over the ocean, though they are possible over cloud tops and mountain tops as well. That is why beaches facing west over open water are such good places to watch for them at sunset. A few things improve your chances:
- A clear, distant horizon. Open sea with no islands, headlands or boats in the way is ideal.
- Clear air. Haze, heavy cloud or a bank of mist along the horizon can hide the moment entirely.
- A little height. A terrace, a cliff path or a sand dune can give a cleaner line of sight than standing at the water's edge.
- Patience and luck. Many evenings will bring a beautiful sunset and no flash at all. That is part of the charm.
Protect your eyes. Never stare at the bright sun itself; wait until only the thinnest sliver remains at the horizon before looking closely, and look away whenever it is uncomfortable.
The Caribbean and the green flash
The islands of the Caribbean, with their long views across warm, clear water, are famous among sunset watchers. Many beach bars and terraces have a nightly sunset gathering, and someone is always ready to swear they saw the flash. The Caribbean for two guide will help you choose an island, and a west-facing beach, for your own attempt.
A sunset ritual for two
Whether or not you ever see the flash, watching the sun go down together can become one of the rituals of your trip. Some ideas for making the most of it:
- Find your spot early. Arrive before the best views fill up, and settle in with time to spare.
- Bring something to share. A drink, a snack, a blanket if the evening turns cool.
- Put the phones away. The flash lasts a moment, and it is easy to miss while fiddling with a camera. Watch it with your own eyes.
- Make it a daily habit. Returning to the same place each evening turns a sunset into a small ceremony.
- Keep a tally. Couples who watch every night sometimes keep a friendly count of flashes seen and missed.
The sunset is also a perfect moment for a proposal, a quiet toast or simply a few words to each other. The guide to proposing has more ideas about choosing a place and a moment.
Beyond the flash
Even without the green flash, the minutes after sunset can be the most beautiful of the day. The sky often deepens into rich colours after the sun has gone, and on a clear night the first stars appear soon after. Stay a while. The crowds drift away, the air cools, and you have the view to yourselves.
If you are planning a beach trip where sunsets are part of the appeal, you may also enjoy the guide to all-inclusive and couples-only resorts, many of which sit on west-facing beaches. And if a sunset over the Pacific is more your dream, see Hawaii for two.