The Sun is Green

May 17, 2013 at 2:00 am Chad Upton

By Chad Upton

I know, the sun doesn’t look green. But, keep in mind the sky looks blue and we know it’s not really blue. The sky appears blue for the same reason some people’s eyes look blue — an optical illusion known as the Tyndall effect.

When scientists measure the wavelength (color) of the sun, the peak output is in the transition area between blue and green (about 500 nanometers). So, technically, the sun is green-blue. But, why doesn’t it look green?

It doesn’t look green because it also emits light at other wavelengths, enough that our eyes blending these wavelengths together perceive the combination as white light. Because of the way our eyes work, we can only see a green star (such as the sun) if its photons are limited to the green range. Therefore, you’ll never actually see a green star (as green).

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photo: Roxanne (cc)

sources: earthsky.org, discover magazine, blogstronomy

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Entry filed under: Despite Popular Belief. Tags: blue, effect, green, sky, space, sun, tyndall.