Why Sunsets Glow Red and Orange

Sunsets glow red and orange because sunlight travels through more atmosphere at low angles.
The extra distance scatters away shorter blue and violet wavelengths.
Longer wavelengths like red, orange, and yellow pass through, coloring the sky.
This same scattering effect explains why midday skies look blue.
Pollution, dust, and smoke can intensify red sunsets by scattering light even more.
Volcanic eruptions often create fiery sunsets worldwide with ash and particles in the air.
Sunsets near the ocean look especially vivid due to moist, particle-rich air.
High-altitude clouds catch the last rays of red sunlight, glowing long after the Sun sets.
The lower the Sun sinks, the richer and deeper the colors appear.
Every sunset is unique, shaped by the atmosphere’s mix of air, dust, and clouds that day.