why sunsets have orange, red and purple, while purple is on the complete other end of the spectrum
In: Physics
Because of a phenomenon where molecules in the atmosphere scatter different wavelengths of light. When the sun is overhead the higher energy and shorter wavelength blue and violet wavelengths don’t have as far to travel to reach our eyes. We don’t see violet wavelengths well so that’s why we mainly see the blue ones. At sunrise and sunset the sun isn’t overhead but on the side resulting in a much greater distance for light waves to travel. The higher energy / shorter wavelength blue and violet light is scattered before it reaches your eyes. This allows your retinas to start picking up more of the yellows … Then orange … And finally red light. Each color having less energy but longer wavelengths allowing it to travel farther with less scattering. Night arises when no further light can make it to your eyes because it’s being absorbed by the Earth itself. Moonlight is the reflected blue and violet sunlight off of the Moon.
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