Is everyone else seeing this phenomena?

April 1, 2014 6:44 AM

I live near the coast and for the last few nights, looking out at the end of my dock, I've seen a green sort of light across the bay. It happens around sunset, is anyone else experiencing it? I'm on Long Island.
posted by oldsport to Science & Nature around (11 answers total)

I've always seen a blue light at sunset... Maybe that's a maritime thing...
posted by saradarlin at 9:43 PM on March 31, 2014

There's a lot of mist around here lately; I can't even see that creepy eye-doctor sign with the 4-foot-tall eyes. But then again...I haven't been to the eye doctor in a while.
posted by limeonaire at 9:43 PM on March 31, 2014 [3 favorites]

Are you looking East, or West?
posted by tzikeh at 10:10 PM on March 31, 2014

Better to swim towards the light than to swim in your pool.
posted by Jahaza at 10:21 PM on March 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

It's your neighbor, Sam. He's making green eggs and ham.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:39 PM on March 31, 2014 [4 favorites]

What you're seeing is commonly known as the Green Flash. You're lucky to see it several nights in a row!
posted by solarion at 2:28 AM on April 1, 2014

If you click through to oldsport's profile and map out the GPS coordinates, you can see exactly where s/he lives. I'm not sure the view in any direction there is going to present you with an unimpeded horizon, so the chances of this being a "Green Flash" phenomenon are slim.

It would be helpful if you could specify which direction you're looking when you see the green light. I can't make out your dock from the Google Earth images but if that location is accurate it suggests you're likely looking NE across the bay to that other Long Island peninsula.

It's probably just a traffic light! (Though, I'm not sure that neighborhood would have any installed yet, and you don't mention seeing amber or red.)

Here's what I'd suggest: why don't you take a drive over to the other side of the bay and find out exactly what's there. It might make for a fun afternoon.

But -- and I hope this isn't too impolite -- after digging through your posting history here, I suspect you might already know the answer?
posted by nobody at 6:02 AM on April 1, 2014 [3 favorites]

Could it be a really big tit of a fresh, dreamy country?
posted by Riverine at 8:49 AM on April 1, 2014

I know there's been some reports of *red* lights in the water associated with some abductions of young kids - mostly girls, I think. If you google for Mark Meltzer, you may be able to see if he has more information about it and if it's related.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:54 AM on April 1, 2014

I know exactly what you're talking about! I tried taking a little skiff out there, but no matter how hard I rowed I ended up irresistibly pulled in reverse by the flow of the water.

Maybe if you cast a wider net, socially speaking, someone from that side of the bay could tell you what's up with the light.
posted by kewb at 1:37 PM on April 1, 2014 [3 favorites]

No to sound weird, but, would you describe this light as orgastic?
posted by BlueJae at 4:01 PM on April 1, 2014