The sky appears orange outside primarily due to the way sunlight interacts with the atmosphere. When the sun is near the horizon, such as during sunrise or sunset, its light passes through a greater distance of the atmosphere. This causes the shorter wavelengths of light (like blue and violet) to scatter out before reaching the eyes, leaving longer wavelengths like red, orange, and yellow to dominate the sky color. Other reasons for an orange sky include the presence of particles in the air such as dust, smoke from wildfires, pollution, or moisture. These particles scatter the shorter wavelengths of light more effectively, making the longer wavelengths more visible, which enhances the orange hue. For example, wildfires produce smoke particles that block shorter blue and green wavelengths, leaving mostly red and orange light to reach the observer, often creating dramatic orange skies even during the day. Additionally, certain weather conditions like storms or cloud cover can contribute to an orange sky by increasing the scattering of shorter wavelengths. In summary, an orange sky results from either the sun’s light traveling a long path through the atmosphere at low angles or the presence of particles like smoke, dust, or pollution that filter out shorter wavelengths, leaving the orange hues prominent.
