Why is the sky blue?

Why is the sky blue?

The sky appears blue due to a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. When sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, it collides with air molecules, scattering shorter blue wavelengths more than the longer red wavelengths.

So, does that mean the sky can be other colors?

Yes, exactly! During sunrise and sunset, the sky can appear red or orange because the sunlight passes through more atmosphere, scattering the blue light and allowing the longer wavelengths to dominate.

What about cloudy days? Why does the sky look gray?

On cloudy days, the clouds scatter all colors of light more evenly, which can make the sky appear gray. The thickness and type of clouds also play a role in how much light gets through.

Is there a scientific term for the color of the sky?

Yes, the color of the sky is often referred to as 'sky blue,' but in scientific terms, it can be described in terms of its wavelength, which is around 450 nanometers.