Introduction to Light Scattering

Light travels as waves of different lengths. Our atmosphere scatters these waves, affecting what we see. Shorter waves scatter more than longer ones.

Violet light has shorter waves than blue. However, our eyes are more sensitive to blue, and the sun emits more blue light, making the sky appear blue.

Particles much smaller than light's wavelength scatter short waves. Named after Lord Rayleigh, this scattering makes the sky blue and sunsets red.

At higher altitudes, with fewer air particles to scatter light, the sky appears darker. Astronauts see an almost black sky from space.

Airborne particles from pollution scatter different light wavelengths, changing the sky's color. Some pollutants cause a hazy white sky.

Mars has sunset glows and a blue-hued sky at dusk and dawn. Its thin atmosphere and dust influence the light scattering differently than Earth.

Bees see ultraviolet light, experiencing a sky filled with hidden patterns and colors invisible to human eyes.