The Green Sun

Abstract

ON Sunday, September 9, the residents in Colombo, while enjoying their evening stroll on Galle Face, were astonished by a strange appearance in the heavens. The sky was cloudy, and frequent squalls were passing over the sea, one of which just touched Colombo. As soon as it was pant, the sun emerged from behind a cloud, of a bright green colour. It was then about 10° above the visible horizon. The whole disk was distinctly seen, and the light was so subdued that one could look steadily at it; indeed I should say its intensity was scarcely half that of the full moon. The same phenomenon was also observed on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was overcast, and I have not heard of any observations being made; and on Thursday the sun had resumed its normal appearance. I was not in a position to observe it in the morning; but from reports from other parts of the island I learn that the sun appeared green at its rising, and afterwards changed to blue, like the flame of sulphur, giving little light till it had attained an altitude of about 20°, when it could no longer be watched with the naked eye. During the day the light had a bluish tinge; and in the evening the same phenomena were repeated in inverse order. The moon also, to some extent, was affected in the same way.