I saw my first 'Green Flash' last night......
Posted by: arf005 on 28 April 2006
....and another one this morning!
No, I'm not talking about some LSD induced Naim logo voltage spike or queer flash-back from a past life.....here's the story - "The sun slips slowly downwards to a clear ocean horizon. Ever reddening as it sinks, soon only a thin sliver of the once hot disk is left. Then, as that too shrinks and lessens, it shines forth for just a second in a most vivid emerald green. Then it is gone, only the dark ocean remains. That is the green flash of fable."
What the hell am I on about...???
Well, I read about them on
here back in September last year. The website is full of great information, and photo's, of all things atmospheric, a subject that has fascinated me since I was young.
Last night was a beautiful evening and on my way up for tea break (I'm off-shore at the moment) I paused to watch the sun go down over a flat North Sea, with clear horizon, and at the very end as the sun dropped off, there's a green disk flash and then it's gone. It was quicker than I'd imagined and if you blinked you'd miss it....but it's the first time I've seen one, and I'm quite chuffed.
Thought I'd see if it happens on a sunrise and just happened to be free at the right time to watch the sun creep over another clear horizon (albeit with a cold wind) and at the back of 5am there's a less obvious green flash then a golden amber disk.....cool.
So, if this doesn't float your boat then so be it, but I thought I'd share it with you.....padded cell is probably the best place for me, and this thread.....
If anything the website -
http://www.atoptics.co.uk may educate you, or your kids.....
Cheers,
Ali
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Chillkram
Sounds fantastic Ali.
I guess you can see the Northern Lights where you are as well which is something I would love to see.
I have spent some time in Elgin, which is just up the road from you, as I married a girl from there and was always disappointed that I didn't get to see them.
Mark
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Adam Meredith
quote:
I married a girl from there and was always disappointed that I didn't get to see them.
What - not even after you married her?
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by hungryhalibut
quote:
No, I'm not talking about some LSD induced Naim logo voltage spike or queer flash-back from a past life.....
And there was me thinking you were getting excited about an old pair of plimolls..........
Nigel
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords
Ali
My apartment has a view of the Southern Ocean facing West, so I'll keep a lookout at sunset from now on.
What are the stars like out on the rig? I love being out in the Australian desert on a clear night, the starry sky is unbelievable and I have spent hours lying on my back just staring.
Steve
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
Ali
My apartment has a view of the Southern Ocean facing West, so I'll keep a lookout at sunset from now on.
What are the stars like out on the rig? I love being out in the Australian desert on a clear night, the starry sky is unbelievable and I have spent hours lying on my back just staring.
Steve
Yes, Light pollution is a real bitch. I love lying on my back and just staring too. I could easily see satelites tracking the heavens when I lived in Cumbria but I never get to see that in Brighton. The dessert in Bahrain and Dubai was a good place. I've heard the outback in Australia is probably the best place unless one wants to hike up a very tall mountain. The universe...it's just bloody mind boggling.
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
quote:
I married a girl from there and was always disappointed that I didn't get to see them.
What - not even after you married her?
Very good, Adam.
An excellent riposte to my 'Grumpy' quip last week.
Mark
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
I saw it when 17 and she was the most beautiful human being on earth!
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:
I saw it when 17 and she was the most beautiful human being on earth!
Gianluigi,
She was green? Was it this one?
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Dear Erik!
I must say that..................somehow...............yes!
You got it!
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by jon h
Ali -- a fascinating website, thanks
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by arf005
No worries Jon, your welcome.
It's one of my favoutire pastime websites when I'm bored out here.....
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by arf005
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
Sounds fantastic Ali.
I guess you can see the Northern Lights where you are as well which is something I would love to see.
I have spent some time in Elgin, which is just up the road from you, as I married a girl from there and was always disappointed that I didn't get to see them.
Mark
Mark,
unfortunately due to the platform lighting, flare etc it's quite difficult to do any proper night watching (another fascination/pastime of mine) and I've never seen the Northern Lights out here. I have however seen them at home a couple of times, latest sighting was not far from where we live on the back roads one winter's night a couple of years back - had to pull over almost into a field and watch for a bit. It was amazing, not colourful like you see in the pics, but there was a dull green tint, and I can only describe it as waves of light in the air, spectacular......
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by arf005
quote:
Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
quote:
No, I'm not talking about some LSD induced Naim logo voltage spike or queer flash-back from a past life.....
And there was me thinking you were getting excited about an old pair of plimolls..........
Nigel
now I haven't seen THEM for ages!!
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by arf005
quote:
Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
Ali
My apartment has a view of the Southern Ocean facing West, so I'll keep a lookout at sunset from now on.
What are the stars like out on the rig? I love being out in the Australian desert on a clear night, the starry sky is unbelievable and I have spent hours lying on my back just staring.
Steve
Steve,
hope you manage to see one some day - a clear horizon is key, as I discovered tonight.....
Like I said to Mark there's too much pollution (light) out here for decent star watching, although I will never forget sitting under the helideck of my old platform, a few years ago now, freezing my nuts off as I witnessed the most amazing meteor shower.......awesome!!
It was reported as one of the biggest we'll ever see (in our life times) and I happened to be on nights. It was well worth braving the cold for - I'm talking at least one every second, several big ones splitting off into two sometimes three/four parts, multiple long ones streaking right down to the horizon (or so it seemed) and this went on for over an hour!!!
In the end we were beaten by the cold Northerly wind, plus we had work to do......but that amazing display will stay with me forever!!
I've also been in the Aussie outback - en-route to Uluru in our campervan, we stopped over between Oodnadatta and somewhere I can’t remember but it was the middle of bloody nowhere overnight........never seen a sky like it!!!
Totally different to the Northern Hemisphere too, which made it even more interesting.....
Like Erik says - "The universe...it's just bloody mind boggling"......and spectacular too!!
Cheers,
Ali
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Chillkram
Ali
Living in London you really get to understand about light pollution. Whilst I guess it must be bad out on the rig, when you are ashore you only have to travel a little way from Aberdeen to get great skies.
My telescope spends most of its time in the shed as there is rarely any good 'seeing' down here, and even when the atmosphere is calm the orange glow is overwhelming.
But then, being an astronomer in this country is generally challenging. I drove to Cornwall in '99 for the eclipse and it just pissed down the whole morning!
Perhaps I should try an easier hobby, like hi-fi or something!
Regards
Mark
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by arf005
Much kudos to you for putting up with life in the big smoke.....I know I couldn't do it!!
Posted on: 29 April 2006 by Phil Cork
quote:
Originally posted by erik scothron:
quote:
Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:
I saw it when 17 and she was the most beautiful human being on earth!
Gianluigi,
She was green? Was it this one?
Hmmm, Green Tara - Goddess of compassion, mother of all Buddhas. I have a great Manjushri Thangka.
phil
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Hmmm, Green Tara - Goddess of compassion, mother of all Buddhas. I have a great Manjushri Thangka.
phil
Phil,
Yes, Gianluigi was most fortunate to have met her at only 17
. I was much older when I met Tara for the first time but we have been going steady ever since. Manjushri too. How comes you know Tara and have a Manjushri Thangka?
Erik
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
quote:
Originally posted by Phil Cork:
I have a great Manjushri Thangka.
Er.......sorry, but what is Manjushri Thangka?
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by Alexander
I remember the 'green flash' from a pop science book with pasted on color pictures I had as a kid. I'd forgotten all about that book actually.
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:
quote:
Originally posted by Phil Cork:
I have a great Manjushri Thangka.
Er.......sorry, but what is Manjushri Thangka?
Thangka Manjushri 
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Ciao Erik!
I see.
In the beginning i did think it was a kind of ceremony.
I have a friend who study religions and told me a lot about them, but i still i get to the same point.
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by erik scothron
quote:
Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:
Ciao Erik!
I see.
In the beginning i did think it was a kind of ceremony.
I have a friend who study religions and told me a lot about them, but i still i get to the same point.
Ciao Gianluigi,
Some Thangkas are very beautiful in my opinion and they take many hours/days to paint. The training of the artists takes years. The formula for the geometry is pricisely laid down and rigorously adhered to. They are highly symbolic and explaining their meaning would take a long time indeed. Much of the Thangka is painted using tiny little separate brush strokes and the painting of it is a form of devotion and meditation.
Surprisngly they can be bought very cheaply in Nepal. One might pay £30 for a thangka that would cost £600 in a London shop. Dealing in Buddhist art (thangkas or statues) would be considered a sin in Buddhism.
I have a very beautiful Thangka of a Buddhist
MandalaI would urge you to see the film called 'Kundun' which has both beautiful cinematography and an excellent score. Turn the volume up and feel it resonate through your entire body. There are thangkas and mandalas in this film.
Erik
Posted on: 30 April 2006 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
quote:
Originally posted by erik scothron:
I would urge you to see the film called 'Kundun' which has both beautiful cinematography and an excellent score.
Hi dear Erik!
Yes i have the movie and its beautiful.
That like Seven Years in Tibet and The little Buddha.
Posted on: 02 May 2006 by Chumpy
My Green Flash daps with removable insoles (just as well) were £4.95 - I see people buying them for £20 in sale/usually £30 +.
I used them for tennis-footwear, and use 'trainers' for feet when 'training'/5-a-side footie etc not walking around like a shellsuit reject.
I know nothing, and also about Dunlop Blue & Red Flash.
Flash was a bit naff, as was Green Lantern IMO and maybe they have become one.
