How Does The Science Behind Sunsets Work?

Sunsets happen because light from the sun travels through more air when it’s low on the horizon, changing its color.

Light is like a group of tiny dancers, they all move together, but sometimes they do different things depending on what they pass through. When the sun is high in the sky, these dancers go straight to your eyes. But when the sun is near the edge of the sky, their path gets longer, and they have to travel through more air.

This extra journey makes some dancers slow down or even change clothes, blue dancers are quicker and get through first, while red dancers take a little longer. That’s why the sky turns red or orange when the sun is setting, like when you look at a ripe apple or a cozy fire.

At sunset, the sky looks more colorful because those red dancers are finally reaching your eyes after their long trip through the air, just like how your favorite toy might feel extra soft after you've played with it all day.