The following article appeared in the Dallas Morning News and was picked up by them from the Boston Globe. QUESTION; In Florida, on Captiva Island, about twice a week there's an event that happens. Just before the sun goes down, a bit blueish-green flash covers the sky. They call it The Flashing. What is it really? ANSWER; The flash is a brilliant, emerald-colored spark of light that sometimes appears where the last edge of the sun is setting below the horizon. The kelly-green ray lasts a second or less. This rare sight is startlingly beautiful, say those lucky enough to have seen it. The green flash can also occur at sunrise. Green flashes have inspired literary descriptions--from Chekov to Jules Verne-- and a wealth of legends. The Scots claim that anyone who has seen the green ray will never err again in matters of the heart. The reason for the flash was long misunderstood. Some said it occurred entirely in the eye, or that it resulted from sunlight passing through waves on an ocean horizon. Actually the green color results from the refraction, or bending, that sunlight undergoes as it passes through the thick layers of atmosphere near the horizon. Blue and green wavelengths of light are refracted the most, just like in a prism, so the setting sun appears to have a very thin blue-green fringe on its top edge. This fringe is hidden by the glare from the rest of the sun until all but the last of the sun's rim is blocked by the horizon. Even then, the atmospheric conditions must be just right. You can read more about it in THE GREEN FLASH By D.J.K. O'Connell and THE NATURE OF LIGHT AND COLOR IN THE OPEN AIR by Marcel Minnaert. To see the green flash you need a distant, sharply defined horizon in the west-- the ocean serves well. You also need a very clear day, with the sun shining brilliant yellow when setting. The effect is suppressed if the sun is dull red. Remember, though, that it is dangerous to stare into the sun; if, you're looking for the green flash, wait until most of the sun is below the horizon. --Boston Globe If you are familiar with Captiva you will remember a restaurant called Timmy's Nook- if my memory serves me correctly. The property was sold, a new restaurant was built, and they called it THE GREEN FLASH. I tried to find out what the green flash meant and then this article appeared in our local paper. Since, we have watched many beautiful sunsets on Captiva and Sanibel and so far no green flashes. But 1999 is another year. Ardeth Hardin, Carrollton, Texas _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]