On a bright sunny day, the sky above us lights up in the blue and bright color. But why is it so? Have you ever thought about this? Scientists also were perplexed by the same question previously, and the explanation starts with the sunlight itself.
What Is Sunlight Made Of?
Sunlight appears white to our eyes but contains many colours. When it travels through a prism, the light separates into a rainbow. A prism refracts the light into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. These colours are always contained in sunlight, even though we cannot distinguish them individually.
Why Does the Sky Appear Blue?
When sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, it encounters gases and small particles. These bend the light in every direction. Blue light consists of shorter and smaller waves compared to red light. This makes it easier to scatter throughout the sky. That is why we notice a distinct blue color most of the time.
Why Does the Sky Change Near the Horizon?
The sky isn't always the same color. Close to the horizon, it tends to turn pale blue or white. Light there has to pass through more air, resulting in even greater scattering. Molecules scatter the colors once again, and sunlight reflected from the earth reinforces the effect.
What Causes Red and Orange Sunsets?
At sundown, sunbeams have to pass through even more atmosphere. Blue light is scattered before reaching us. Red and yellow wavelengths with longer wavelengths pass through, producing reddish, orange evening skies.
Do Other Planets Have Blue Skies Too?
The color of the sky is determined by what is in the air. Mars has a thin, dusty atmosphere that bends light in a different way. Its day sky is orange but blue-grey at sunset.
Next time you gaze up at the sky, keep in mind that the blue above is not magic. It is sunlight separated into colors, deflected by air, and brushed across our sky.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
