Captured on May 21, 2025, at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, AZ, this image showcases the rare and breathtaking phenomenon of the Green Flash, accompanied by sunspot AR4090.

The Green Flash is a fleeting atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when the sun is near the horizon, and a brief flash of green light appears above the sun's edge. This occurs due to the Earth's atmosphere acting as a prism, refracting sunlight into different colors. The green color is more pronounced due to the atmosphere's scattering of shorter wavelengths, such as blue and violet, and the absorption of longer wavelengths, like red and orange.

In this image, the Green Flash is captured in a single exposure, processed in Photoshop Camera Raw, using a Canon 1DX MII with an 800mm lens and Canon Extender RF 1.4X, allowing for a detailed view of the sun's edge. Notably, sunspot AR4090 is also visible, adding an extra layer of interest to the image. Sunspots are cooler regions on the sun's surface, caused by intense magnetic activity, and AR4090 is a specific active region that has garnered attention for its unique characteristics.

Captured at 7:24 PM, 6,000ft above sea level, this image showcases the beauty and complexity of our solar system.

Canon EOS 1-DX MII, BEGH2C Carbon Fiber Head, GIT203 Grand Series2 Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod, Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Lens, Canon Extender RF 1.4X

In Photoshop Camera Raw, I add sharpness and crop the image.