Auringonotto

Auringonotto is the Finnish word for sunset. It refers to the daily disappearance of the Sun below the western horizon as a result of Earth's rotation. This phenomenon marks the end of daylight and the beginning of twilight and night.

The color of the sky during auringonotto is a result of Rayleigh scattering, where shorter wavelengths of light (blues and violets) are scattered more by atmospheric particles than longer wavelengths (reds and oranges). As the Sun gets lower in the sky, its light travels through more of the Earth's atmosphere, causing more blue light to be scattered away. This leaves the longer, warmer colors to be more visible to observers, creating the characteristic hues of a sunset.

Auringonotto can vary significantly in appearance depending on geographical location, season, and atmospheric conditions. In clear skies, the transition can be relatively quick, while cloudy conditions can create dramatic displays of color. The exact time of auringonotto changes daily and is influenced by the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun.

In many cultures, auringonotto is seen as a beautiful and often symbolic event, marking the end of one day and the anticipation of a new one. It is frequently photographed and admired for its aesthetic qualities. The concept is a fundamental aspect of diurnal cycles and is recognized globally, though referred to by different names in various languages.