Why is the Sky Blue?

Many people mistakenly believe that the sky’s color comes from reflecting off of oceans; this may partially be true but more accurately the sky takes its blue hue from long wavelengths of light absorbed by water bodies. Water molecules absorb reds, oranges and yellows more readily while reflecting back blue wavelengths onto surfaces that then…

What Happened to the Earth in Saturn’s Early Days?

Saturn boasts several large and small moons, the largest being Titan, which is slightly bigger than Mercury and offers researchers insights into Earth’s early formation. Astronomers have known since the 1980s that Saturn’s iconic rings are gradually dissolving, though no exact timeline or rate were available to them. The Rings Astronomers have long noted the…

Why is the Sky Blue and the Sunset Red?

Sunlight from the sun passes through our atmosphere and becomes dispersed, with shorter wavelengths like blue being scattered more widely than other colors. Blue light must travel further through the atmosphere than other colors, which explains why the sky appears blue. Rayleigh Scattering Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is scattered by molecules and particles in…

When Will Saturn Lose Its Rings?

Saturn’s iconic rings are disintegrating rapidly. That is because their age was underestimated, causing tons of mass to evaporate every second. Astronomers estimate that Saturn’s rings will only remain visible for another 100 million years or so, according to stargazers’ research. To witness them one last time, stargazers should view Saturn when its rings are…