Sunset question

[werdnal]

My 6 yo son was outside playing this evening and remarked on the beautiful sunset. He then asked "why does the sun get more orange the lower it goes?" Not something I've ever really thought about, but out of the mouths of babes and all that ......

Anyway, can anyone explain why, so I can enlighten him?

Thanks

[Kymba]

This might help you answer your sons questions about the sun

Light Tutorial - Part 3: Natural Light

[mrs fish]

That is a good link

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

That is a good link

I have saved it in My favourites i was so impressed with it

[peppermint]

Originally Posted by Kymba

I have saved it in My favourites i was so impressed with it

yeah me too

[SparklySarah]

Some useful info in there. Apparently at the eruption of Krakatoa (is that spelt right?) there were some pretty dramatic sunsets due to the dust clouds emitted. Amazing what it can change.

[carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by SparklySarah

Apparently at the eruption of Krakatoa (is that spelt right?) there were some pretty dramatic sunsets due to the dust clouds emitted. Amazing what it can change.

That same eruption also apparantly caused 'blue Moon's to be reported worldwide over the following weeks.

[Longshanks76]

Hi

I'm new here so you may have already seen this, but you and your son may find it interesting, it goes someway to illustrate how big some suns can get, takes some "getting your head around"

click link below
The Size Of Our World

[SparklySarah]

Originally Posted by Longshanks76

Hi

I'm new here so you may have already seen this, but you and your son may find it interesting, it goes someway to illustrate how big some suns can get, takes some "getting your head around"

click link below
The Size Of Our World

Bloomin' 'eck that's impressive!! Saved that link. :P

P.S. A walm welcome to WAB!

[Shadowjewel]

Wow!! Our sun is tiny compared to some of those!! Saved that link also!

That got me thinking about the colour of stars again - so far as I remember, they can come in just about any colour, but our atmosphere makes them look the same, with The Jewel Box being the exception. I wonder why - why they are all different colours and why most of them look the same through our atmosphere? I should be able to hunt up some answers somewhere - fascinating stuff!

[carlos_dfc]

Even with naked-eye you can see a tint of colour to some stars.
Antares in Scorpio has a definite reddish hue, so do Aldeberan in Taurus, Betelgeuse in Orion - and a fair few others. Sirius and Vega are striking brilliant white.

You really see the different colours when looking at double stars of differing hues - being close to each other, the contrast can sometimes really bring out the colours.
An easy one is Albireo - the bottom star of the 'cross' shape of Cygnus, the swan.
At this time of year it is lying on it's side - high to the East by the time it gets dark
(check out the map below)
Even in modest binoculars (10x50 will do) it is possible to see the two seperate stars (bigger binocs, or a small telescope are even better) - the brighter one is a brilliant yellow - and the other is a definite touquoise colour.

Colour contrasting double-stars were a particular favourite of well-to-do Victorian 'Gentleman' astronomers.