10 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JANUARY 2021
Night moon Rising moon
Moon over water
By Theresa Rossetti, Resident
Has anyone every asked you that? According to some very limited research I did,
sunlight scatter from air molecules in the atmosphere cause the sky to look blue.
The violet and blue hues of sunlight are the right size to bounce off the molecules
during the day. The human eye is more sensitive to blue than violet, so Blue Sky!
What about gorgeous hues at sunset or sunrise? At those times, it takes longer
for sunlight to reach the earth. With a longer path, the scattered light we see is
from the other end of the spectrum, orange and red. Clouds high in the sky play a
part as high clouds help to scatter more of the rays.
Have you heard that brilliant sunsets are caused by smog in the air? Turns out
that's not entirely true. According to NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, pollution, whether naturally occurring (volcanoes, sandstorms,
fires) or caused by humans, adds aerosols into the air. These make sunsets
"redder" by enhancing that end of the light spectrum.
So, whether it's gorgeous blue skies during the day, at sunset or sunrise,
moonrise sightings or the planets and stars at night, take a look at what some SDV
residents have captured as they go about their day (and night).
Thanks to Hilary Ross (sunsets), Kim Walker (blue sky, snow on the mountains
and moonrise), Pam Yang (moon over the hills and sunset), Mike Hurlock (night
sky) and Vicky Franks (sunrise) for sharing their photography skills with all of us.
Why is the Sky Blue?
