Sunrises and sunsets, the varied weather in the world are evidence that the Earth is rotating.

How do sunrise and sunset appear?

Due to the tireless movement of the Earth around its own axis and the Sun, the daily appearance and disappearance of the solar disk occurs, which marks the beginning and end of daylight hours. The science of astronomy defines sunrise and sunset as the time of the appearance or disappearance of the top point of the solar disk.

We have the opportunity to observe a phenomenon called twilight, which appears as a result of part of the rays that, falling into the upper atmosphere, are reflected on the surface of the Earth. Depending on the latitude, twilight can last for different times:

• The duration of twilight at the poles can be 2-3 weeks.
• In subpolar zones, they continue for several hours;
• Twilight observed in temperate latitudes is about 2 hours.
• The shortest twilight observed before sunrise is recorded at the Equator and is only 20-25 minutes.

Sunrise and sunset are colored differently due to the specific optical effect created by the sun's rays. This natural phenomenon is depicted in the paintings of many artists and is sung in literary works.

Sunrise is accompanied by the appearance of gentle tones in the firmament, and at sunset the sky is painted with bright saturated colors. It is very rare to see even a green sunset, which looks fantastically beautiful and unusual!

The colors of the sunset have such a richness due to the daytime warming of the earth's surface, as a result of which there is a decrease in humidity and an increase in the speed of air currents that raise dust into the air. The color scheme of sunrise and sunset depends on the area in which we can observe this beauty.

When the Sun leaves the horizon, the sky turns purple. The maximum color saturation appears when the Sun descends 4-5 degrees below the horizon with a gradual coloration in a fiery red color, called the "rays of the Buddha".

Watching the red sunset and sunrise, people at all times tried to find an explanation for this phenomenon. For them it was incomprehensible why the yellow luminary changed its color abruptly at sunrise and sunset, and they associated this with the bad phenomena that the weather was preparing for them, and feared natural disasters.

According to one version, the red sky at sunrise portends an abnormal heat, the red sunrise was associated with strong winds or rain. The development of astrology made it possible to find an explanation for such phenomena.

Interesting Facts

Many people have the misconception that in the Northern Hemisphere, the earliest sunset falls on December 21, and the latest is June 21. In fact, these dates indicate the shortest or longest day of the year.

The northernmost latitude, which is closest to the solstice, may experience the latest sunset of the year. An interesting fact of late entry was recorded on June 23 in 2014 at a latitude of 62 degrees.

Modern meteorologists, when making a weather forecast, always indicate the time of sunrise and sunset, as well as the length of daylight hours.

And what color are sunrises and sunsets on other planets of the Universe?

Interestingly, the sunset on Mars is colored blue. This amazingly beautiful phenomenon was captured by the Spirit rover.

According to the data transmitted to the Earth by the researcher of the mysterious planet, the blue glow colors the Martian sky 2 hours before sunrise and sunset, as a result of which these phenomena are longer in time than we have on Earth. The unusual blue color is provided by dust high above the surface of Mars and scattering sunlight.

The Martian sunset differs from the terrestrial one in that due to the location of Mars much farther from the Sun, the star on Mars is very small in size.

The development of space technologies inspires hope in humanity that someday our descendants will be able to see blue sunrises and sunsets on Mars!