Sunset Pictures
Written by Fraser Cain
Astronomers classify a sunset as the moment when the Sun's trailing edge disappears below the western horizon. When the Sun is at this point, we're seeing its light after it has passed through much more atmosphere than when it's directly overhead. The red and orange end of the spectrum are scattered by the atmosphere which is why we can see the spectacularly colored sunsets with beautiful orange and red reflecting off the clouds. Sunset pictures are some of the most beautiful images out there. Let's take a look at some photos of sunsets – some even from other worlds. This is Universe Today, of course, so we'll include something space-related in every picture.
Goldstone antenna. Image credit: NASA
This is the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, located in California. NASA has three complexes like this to create its Deep Space Network. The network allows NASA to communicate with its spacecraft across the Solar System.
The Sun seen from Pete Conrad... on the Moon. Image credit: NASA
Astronaut Pete Conrad captured this sunset image of the Sun during the Apollo 12 mission. Although the Sun is very bright, you can see the horizon of the Moon.
Three images of the setting Sun on Mars. Image credit: NASA
This sunset photo shows the Sun down at the horizon… of Mars. The sunset pic was captured by NASA's Mars Pathfinder spacecraft on its 24th day on the surface of the Red Planet.
Artist's impression of a triple sunset. Image credit: NASA
Here's a photo of a sunset that we can only imagine in our minds today. It's an artist's impression of a triple sunset on an alien planet. This is a real world though, HD188753, located about 149 light years away in the constellation Cygnus.
Eclipse sunset. Image credit: NASA
Here's an image of a sunset, but the Sun has a bite out of it. This sunset pic was captured during a partial solar eclipse on December 14, 2001 over the Gulf of Mexico.
Want to see more pictures of sunsets? Here are some non space-related images from Flickr and Webshots.
We have recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast just about the Sun called The Sun, Spots and All.
Filed under: Astronomy
