ELi5: What makes sunrises and sunsets pretty/colorful and could you predict what days they would be so?

Question

I want to understand the science behind the beauty.

In: Other

Answer 1

If there’s a lot of dust or smoke in the air, it’ll catch the light. E.g. in California these days.

If there are *some* clouds, particularly flattish ones on the Sun’s side of the sky, they’ll be lit. When the sun is low, they may even be lit on the underside.