The Green Ray

infobox Book |
name = The Green Ray
title_orig = Le Rayon vert
translator =


image_caption =
author = Jules Verne
illustrator = Léon Benett
cover_artist =
country = France
language = French
series = The Extraordinary Voyages
genre = Novel
publisher = Pierre-Jules Hetzel
release_date = 1882
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = NA
preceded_by = Godfrey Morgan
followed_by = Kéraban the Inflexible

"The Green Ray" ( _fr. Le Rayon vert) is a novel by the French writer Jules Verne published in 1882 and named after the optical phenomenon (see green flash). It is referenced in a film of the same name by Eric Rohmer.

Plot summary

The heroes are trying to observe the green ray in Scotland. After numerous unsuccessful tries caused by clouds or distant boat sails hiding the sun, the phenomenon is eventually visible, but the heroes, finding love in each other's eyes, don't pay attention to the horizon.

cientific basis

Green flashes and green rays are rare optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point. It is usually observed from a low altitude where there is an unobstructed view of the horizon, such as on the ocean. The idea in the novel that one can predict where and when to observe the green ray has no scientific basis.