Question

State the difference in colours of the sun observed during sunrise/sunset and noon. Give explanation for each.

Answer 1

Sun appears red at sunrise and sunset. At sunrise and sunset, sun is closer to the horizon. The sunlight passes through denser layer of air and covers larger distance before reaching our eyes. Most of the blue light gets scattered. The light that reaches us is red. That is why the sun appears red at sunrise.

At noon, the sun is overhead. The sunlight passes through rares layers of air and covers shorter distance before reaching our eye. So, almost all colours of light are scattered equally. Hence the sun appears white.