How Does the Color of a Sky Change at Different Times of Day?

The color of the sky changes because sunlight travels through more or less air depending on the time of day.

Imagine you're drinking a glass of juice. If you drink it quickly, it stays bright and clear. But if you sip slowly, the light from your spoon might look a little darker, like it's been filtered through extra layers of something.

That’s what happens with sunlight. In the morning or evening, the sun is lower, so its light has to travel through more air to reach us. The air acts like a filter, it takes away some of the blue and purple light, leaving behind orange and red colors, just like when you sip slowly from your glass.

At noon, the sun is high up, so its light has a short journey through the air. That means we see more blue, it’s like drinking your juice all in one go, where everything looks bright and clear.

When the sun is low, the sky looks like a painting with warm colors. You might see pink, orange, or even purple, just like when you mix different colored paints on an art table.