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LiveScience
LiveScience
Alice Sun

Why is there sometimes a green flash at sunset and sunrise?

A photograph of a sunset over the ocean with a green flash around the sun.

As the sun dips below the horizon and the light starts to dim, lucky observers may spot a rare, brief flash of emerald. This is the "green flash," which can sometimes be seen right after sunset or before sunrise. 

So what causes the green flash?

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