✴ During sunrise and sunset, the rays have to travel a larger part of the atmosphere because they are very close to the horizon.

✴Therefore, light other than red is mostly scattered away.

✴Most of the red light, which is the least scattered, enters our eyes.

🌟Hence, the sun and the sky appear red.

Color of the Sun at Sunrise and Sunset

Introduction:
The Sun is the closest star to Earth and is responsible for the majority of the light and heat that reaches our planet. While the Sun appears to be yellow or white during the day, it often takes on a beautiful orange-red hue during sunrise and sunset. This phenomenon is primarily due to the scattering of light as it passes through Earth's atmosphere.

Scattering of Light:
When sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, it encounters various molecules and particles present in the air. These molecules and particles scatter the light in different directions, leading to a change in its path and intensity. The scattering process is influenced by the wavelength of light and the size of the scattering particles.

Rayleigh Scattering:
Rayleigh scattering is the dominant form of scattering that occurs in the Earth's atmosphere. It is responsible for the blue color of the sky during the day. This type of scattering is most effective for shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and violet, which have smaller wavelengths compared to red and orange.

Effect of Rayleigh Scattering at Sunrise and Sunset:
During sunrise and sunset, the Sun is lower in the sky compared to midday when it is directly overhead. This causes the sunlight to pass through a larger portion of Earth's atmosphere, resulting in a longer path for the light to travel. As a result, the shorter wavelengths, mainly blue and violet, are scattered away from the line of sight, leaving behind the longer wavelengths, such as red and orange, to reach our eyes.

Atmospheric Conditions:
The color of the Sun during sunrise and sunset can also be influenced by the presence of dust, pollution, and other particles in the atmosphere. These particles can scatter and absorb light, further enhancing the orange-red appearance of the Sun.

Conclusion:
The orange-red color of the Sun at sunrise and sunset is primarily due to the scattering of shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) by Earth's atmosphere. As a result, the longer wavelengths (red and orange) are more visible to our eyes. The atmospheric conditions and the path length of sunlight also contribute to the specific color observed during these times of the day.