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Rayleigh scattering causes the blue color of the daytime sky and the reddening of the Sun at sunset. Rayleigh scattering (/ ˈ r eɪ l i / RAY-lee) is the scattering or deflection of light, or other electromagnetic radiation, by particles with a size much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation.
The color of light from the sky is a result of Rayleigh scattering of sunlight, which results in a perceived blue color. On a sunny day, Rayleigh scattering gives the sky a blue gradient, darkest around the zenith and brightest near the horizon.
The color perceived is similar to that presented by a monochromatic blue (at wavelength 474–476 nm) mixed with white light, that is, an unsaturated blue light. [5] The explanation of blue color by Lord Rayleigh in 1871 is a famous example of applying dimensional analysis to solving problems in physics.
Particles in the air scatter short-wavelength light (blue and green) through Rayleigh scattering much more strongly than longer-wavelength yellow and red light. Loosely, the term crepuscular rays is sometimes extended to the general phenomenon of rays of sunlight that appear to converge at a point in the sky, irrespective of time of day. [3] [4]
Orange hues are usually seen at certain times of the day, which is why at some points the sky has a more gray-ish haze and other times it's orange. What a difference a day makes!
The sky actually appears to be blue less than half the time. Some conditions under which the sky may not appear blue: During the night, the sky appears black. Without light from the sun creating Rayleigh scattering, the sky cannot be seen as blue, [3] except in certain conditions when the moon is up. [4] Clouds can obscure the color of the sky.
View of the night sky in July The day's blue sky, clouds and the Moon. The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from outer space.
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