Sunsets
Sunsets are daily optical phenomena that occur as the Sun’s disk passes below the western horizon, marking the transition from day to night. The visible sunset palette arises primarily from Rayleigh scattering: sunlight travels through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere at sunset, scattering shorter wavelengths (blue and green) out of the line of sight and leaving longer wavelengths (red, orange, pink) to dominate. The specific colors depend on atmospheric composition and conditions, including aerosols from dust, pollution, smoke, humidity, and cloud cover. Particulate matter can enhance reds and purples by absorbing shorter wavelengths, while high clouds can reflect and refract light, producing varied hues.
The timing and extent of a sunset vary with latitude, season, and local topography. In clear air,
Sunsets have a prominent place in culture and art, often symbolizing endings, transitions, or beauty, and they